Council turns to private sector to progress plans for new library

Published on 19 October 2022

There has long been a need for a new library and community centre in South West Rocks and with the population increasing, so too is the need for this new facility.

Kempsey Shire Council is continuing with plans to make this a reality by turning to the private sector for support.

Council recently assessed potentially suitable publicly owned sites for the construction of the library and community hub.

This high-level analysis involved a review of Council-owned and Crown land sites.

At the September 2022 Council Meeting, Councillors agreed to receive expressions of interest from private landholders for a site for the new library and community centre within the South West Rocks Structure Plan footprint.

This will enable Council to assess all potentially suitable sites, to provide a more holistic decision for the location. Council is asking for non-binding confidential expressions of interest to identify potentially suitable private land sites for the new library and community hub.

Options to be explored would include:

• Council purchasing and developing a land site

• Council leasing a developed site

• Council receiving land or an asset from a developer in place of a developer contribution.

If you are a landowner or developer with a potentially suitable site in South West Rocks, you are invited to make a submission by visiting the SmartyGrants website

Expressions of Interest will be open until Friday 11 November, 2022. For more information please contact Council on 6566 3200.

Make a submission