Liverpool City new Library is now open at 52 Scott Street, Liverpool.
The new library is 5,000sqm over 6 levels and features:
- Dedicated children’s and youth floors
- Sunken courtyard garden
- Create space studio for STEM and creative programs
- Group study rooms
- 2 kilometres of book shelves
- Collection of 85,000 items
- Comfortable and quiet spaces to study and work
- Heritage research room
- Public computers, WiFi and printing
- Gallery for changing exhibitions
- 24hr returns and book pickups.
Council’s Customer Service centre will also be moving early 2024. Stay tuned for further updates on the move.
Council’s proposed mixed-use Liverpool Civic Place development, in partnership with Built Development, will anchor and activate the southern end of Liverpool CBD, providing new public spaces, community facilities and job opportunities for our growing city.
Located at 52 Scott Street, Liverpool, Council will commit around $195 million to the Council Works components of the proposed development, which include:
- New Council offices and Council Chambers;
- A new city library and community hub;
- A childcare facility;
- A new civic plaza; and
- Council and public parking.
An artist's impression of the future Council Works component of Liverpool Civic Place.
The Developer Works component of Liverpool Civic Place will include:
- A 22-level tower to accommodate a combination of commercial, retail and education spaces; and
- An eight-level, 84-room hotel.
Built Development will cover the cost of the Developer Works components of Liverpool Civic Place.
An artist's impression of the public plaza.
Project Status
The Liverpool Civic Place Master Plan was approved in August 2020, with the Demolition and Early Works Development Application approved in June 2020. Demolition and excavation work on the site are complete.
The Development Application for the Council Works component was lodged in October 2020, with development consent issued in July 2021. Construction, of the Council works component, commenced in October 2021.
The Council works are scheduled to be complete by mid-2023.
Details of the Council Works Development Application and the Developer Works Development Application are available on Council's website.
Liverpool City Council has identified 52 Scott Street as a key site to revitalise and enhance the southern end of the Liverpool CBD into an important component of our future commercial and social needs.
Council’s objectives for Liverpool Civic Place are to:
- Provide a mixed-use development incorporating a combination of Council services, commercial, retail, cultural, educational, hotel and dining functions;
- Provide a civic identity, focus and anchor to activate the southern end of the Liverpool City Centre;
- Contribute to environmental, social and economic sustainability by capitalising on the site's location;
- Create a generous public space which is active, responsive, high quality, connected, engaging and sustainable; and
- Achieve the highest quality design outcomes having regard to environmental sustainability and appropriateness for the land.
The procurement of the Liverpool Civic Place project has been a two-stage process, including initially calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) and a Request for Detailed Proposal (RFDP). On 29 June 2016, Council awarded the contract for delivering Liverpool Civic Place to Built Holdings Pty Ltd (Built). Liverpool Civic Place, to be delivered by Built, is separated into two components, as outlined below:
Council works:
- New Council offices and Council Chambers;
- A new city library and community hub;
- A childcare facility;
- A new civic plaza; and
- Council and public parking.
Developer works:
- A 22-level tower to accommodate a combination of commercial, retail and education spaces;
- An eight-level, 84-room co-living facility; and
- Parking.
The total project cost is approximately $400 million. Liverpool City Council will commit around $195 million to its components of the development. Building Liverpool Civic Place is expected to generate at least 350 construction jobs.
Council is planning to borrow $177.5 million to be paid off over 20 years.
The annual principal loan and interest repayment is estimated at $11.3 million.
The old library building will remain in Council ownership and will initially be used for community facilities and programs. There is potential to redevelop the site in future depending on emerging community needs.
The Council offices at 33 Moore St, Liverpool, will continue to be leased and occupied by the University of Wollongong South West (Liverpool) campus. UoW will occupy all the building from 2024.
Council is the anchor tenant for Liverpool Civic Place and will occupy most of the commercial space.
The University of Wollongong will extend their existing lease to occupy all of 33 Moore St, Liverpool, which is owned by Council. This is expected to be complete by 2024.
The additional rental income from the available commercial space at LCP; 33 Moore Street; the Liverpool City Library site; and 3 Hoxton Park Road properties will service more than 75 per cent of Council's loan repayments for Liverpool Civic Place.
In addition to actively seeking commercial tenants, Council is engaging with Federal and NSW Government agencies to establish offices in Liverpool, putting jobs close to residents.
Council's long-term financial model, which has been validated by independent accounting firm Grant Thornton Australia, confirms that Council will be able to pay for Liverpool Civic Place without seeking a rate increase.
Should Council not attract a tenant to the available commercial space at Liverpool Civic Place, the additional loan repayment required will be less than 6 per cent of Council's annual operating revenue. Council effectively has four years from 2021 to secure a tenant. Council's long-term financial plan assumes rental income will commence from 2025.
Should that not occur, Council will continue to provide core services to the community while servicing the loan until the 2026/2027 financial year. If a tenant has not been found by this time, Council can look at selling off its surplus and uneconomical assets. The execution of these options will be subject to economic conditions and decisions of Council's elected representatives.
On completion of the project the community of Liverpool will own an asset valued in excess of $200 million.
The School of Arts building will not be impacted by the development and will remain as an integral part of Augusta Cullen Plaza.
Construction of the main works commenced in October 2021. Structure for the carpark is complete, structure for the library building and admin building ongoing. Completion scheduled for mid 2023 subject to favourable weather conditions.