Harvey Library Expansion Project

Project Overview

The Harvey War Memorial Library expansion includes a dynamic new library layout with increased floor area, dedicated community group facilities, private study and group learning spaces, children’s facilities, and an integrated media and production studio to permanently house the Harvey Community Radio Station.

The facility will cater for the Shire’s expanding population.

The expansion includes:

Library expansion: Expansion of the footprint of the library.
Heritage restoration: The careful preservation and restoration of the historic Harvey War Memorial Library facade.
Harvey Community Radio: Construction of a permanent, purpose-built home and media/production studios for the 24/7 volunteer-run Harvey Community Radio 96.5fm.
Community spaces: The addition of versatile community meeting rooms, co-working spaces, quiet rooms, and indoor/outdoor children’s breakout spaces.
Cultural and tourism displays: A tourist display celebrating iconic Australian author May Gibbs, alongside Historical Society and RSL displays.
Accessibility and amenities: A wellness space, unisex baby change facilities and end-of-trip travel facilities.
External works: Development of a sculpture garden, landscaping, public plazas, and crucial electrical infrastructure upgrades.

Project Update October 2026

We’re undertaking a range of improvements to the Lesser Town Hall to help preserve this much-loved heritage building and make it more comfortable and accessible for the community. The Lesser Hall will serve as the temporary Harvey Library, ensuring library services and programs continue while the new library facility is under construction.

Works include:

Replacement of timber flooring in the Lesser Hall, using floorboards recycled from the Old Radio Station
Construction of a new entry threshold to improve accessibility
Air-conditioning of the Lesser Hall
Structural and conservation works to support the building’s long-term future

What we’ve completed so far

Over recent months, our contractors have focused on essential restoration and structural works at the Harvey Town Hall, including:

Replacing wall ties between the internal and external brickwork.
Deteriorated mortar joints repaired and replaced to restore the integrity and appearance of the brickwork.
Cracked brickwork strengthened using concealed reinforcement rods to improve structural stability.
Affected rendered wall areas repaired and prepared for repainting.

What’s happening next with the Lesser Town Hall?

With the external restoration work on the Town Hall now complete, crews have moved inside the building to begin the next stage of upgrades, including the timber flooring and accessibility improvements.

Projects like this take time, particularly when working with a heritage building, but each stage is helping to ensure the Lesser Town Hall can continue serving the community for many years to come.

Thank you for your patience while these important works are underway. We’ll continue to keep you updated on our progress.

What’s happening next with the Library Expansion?

Our lead consultant Christou Design Group has completed a re-documentation and value-engineering review of the original design to ensure the new facility meets community needs and can be delivered affordably. The final proposal is available for viewing below.

Our procurement team has conducted an Expression of Interest process to shortlist suitable candidates for the construction contract. Tender respondents were assessed on their demonstrated experience delivering similar civic and heritage projects, their approach to safely managing works in live environments, the capability and availability of key personnel and resources, their commitment to workplace health and safety, and their financial capacity to successfully deliver the project.

A Closed Tender will be issued to the successful short-listed respondents for a value-for-money assessment to identify the preferred contractor and ensure the project can be delivered within the approved budget.

Tree Protection Update

You may have noticed the palm tree located on the site of the Old Radio Station, next to the existing library. This tree is a Phoenix Canariensis, approximately 14 metres tall.

The palm has been incorporated into the design of the library expansion as a feature, recognising the historical role palm trees have played in Harvey’s streetscapes. An arborist has assessed the tree and provided recommendations to ensure it is protected during construction. The building’s footings are designed to allow sufficient clearance to protect the tree’s root zone while allowing the project to proceed.

This approach will help preserve an important landscape feature.

The Harvey Library Expansion Project has moved from planning into delivery phase.

The design has been revised since the completed 2022-2023 design phase for the Precinct. Critical alterations to the footprint of the building have been implemented to ensure the project’s financial viability.

The revised design documentation is anticipated to be completed in September 2026, to be made available for a closed Public Tender process.

Demolition will soon be underway of the old (vacant) Harvey Community Radio building on Young Street to make way for the development site. The demolition works have been awarded to a demolition contractor; site works are due to be completed by end of August 2026, after which the site sits cleared and vacant until construction begins.

From approximately November 2026 to December 2027, library services will be temporarily relocated to the Harvey Lesser Town Hall to ensure continued access for the community while works are undertaken for the new library.

The Shire will soon commence upgrading the Town Hall to improve building accessibility, ventilation, new carpeting, office space and IT requirements, while also separating the Lesser Hall from the Town Hall so both can operate independently.

The Project is part of the Federal Government’s growing Regions Program (Round 2).

Secured funding contributions currently total $14,145,651, as outlined below:

Federal Government: $6,145,651
Shire of Harvey: $8,000,000.

To align the project’s scope with the available funding, targeted cost reductions have been achieved through value engineering, scope refinement, and prioritisation of essential project components.

The Shire undertook a six-week consultation process during June, July and August 2021 to obtain community feedback on the draft Master Plan for the proposed Harvey Community Precinct.

The Harvey Community Precinct Master Plan is a dynamic long term planning document that provides a framework and a vision for the future growth of Harvey.

On Tuesday, 21 December 2021 the Shire of Harvey Council endorsed to complete the Master Plan concept and briefing stage for the Harvey Community Precinct project.

On Tuesday, 23 August 2022 the Shire of Harvey Council endorsed the final Master Plan for the project and endorsed moving to the design and development phase of the project.

The Application for Development Approval for the Civic Use (Harvey Community Precinct) was advertised for public comment for a two-week period in September 2023.

Planning Phase

✓ Financial Planning and budget development

✓ Needs assessment and project scoping

✓ Stakeholder and community engagement

✓ Business case approval and project endorsement

Design phase

✓ Concept design, development and review

✓ Detailed design and technical documentation

✓ Ongoing stakeholder consultation and approvals

◔ Tender preparation and contractor procurement

Construction phase

• Construction commencement and site establishment

• Project delivery and progress monitoring

• Practical completion and finishing works

• Final completion, handover and project close-out

The Harvey War Memorial Library Expansion will include a new library layout and a range of community facilities, as follows:

The expansion of the Harvey War Memorial Library
Restoration of the Harvey War Memorial Library historic façade
Historical Society and RSL display and meeting space
May Gibbs tourist display
A media and production studio including the permanent home for Harvey Community Radio 96.5fm
End of Trip travel facilities
Wellness space
Group space
Sculpture courtyard
Community meeting room facilities
Program spaces for community groups, language, and learning
Improved accessibility, public amenities, and pedestrian connectivity
Training rooms
Quiet rooms
Parent’s room and accessible restrooms
Indoor/ outdoor children’s breakout spaces
Landscaping and public space
Electricity infrastructure upgrade.

This project was originally stage 1 of a larger multi-stage Harvey Community Precinct Project. Stage 1 was identified by community as the key priority for delivery.

Funding for Stage 1 has been secured via the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program (Round 2) and the Shire of Harvey.

The Harvey Library expansion design is informed by:

Extensive community consultation. For example, elements of the original design have been removed in line with community feedback. This includes reduction of the floor area, removal of the reading court, and a simplified roof.
Facilities that accommodate the changing needs of the Harvey community
Accessibility considerations, such as publicly accessible toilets, pedestrian access and facilities for mobility aid users
Connection to Harvey’s local character and heritage, through elements such as the sculpture garden and preserving the historic War Memorial façade.

New Features in the design include:

External pergola wraps around the building
Public training room
Public accessible toilet
Group meeting space
Facilities for cyclists and mobility aid users
Storeroom

Construction is expected to start in late 2026.
Practical Completion is anticipated in November 2027.
Final Occupation is expected by February 2028.

This timeline will be subject to weather, supply chains and contractor scheduling.

Library services will continue to operate until the new facility is ready.

The services will be temporarily relocated to the Harvey Lesser Town Hall to ensure continued access for the community while works are undertaken for the new library.

The Shire of Harvey’s Asset Maintenance team will be making improvements so the Harvey Lesser Town Hall can function independently from the Town Hall, prior to the relocation.

Core library services, programs and resources will continue to operate from the temporary location, with minimal disruption to users from the Lesser Hall.

The Shire of Harvey’s Community Development team will meet with the Harvey Historical Society to discuss a suitable location to ensure the preservation of the photos.

Yes, the improvements will remain in place for future users of the Harvey Lesser Town Hall.

This project will be managed by the Shire of Harvey’s Chief Executive Officer, Director of Community and Lifestyle, and Manager Special Projects in consultation with a Shire-appointed Project Control Group (PCG). The PCG is made up of:

Shire of Harvey President
Chief Executive Officer
Director of Community and Lifestyle
Manager Special Projects
Manager Library Services
Library Projects Manager
Representatives from the selected building contractor, including their Project Manager (once a contractor is appointed)
Independent Cost Consultant and Superintendent
Lead Consultant (Christou Architecture)

The PCG and project lead will be responsible for managing the planning, construction, and delivery of this project to time, to standard and within budget. This includes the development of project plans, timelines, milestones, budgeting, reporting, preparation of tender documents and managing tender processes.

The PCG is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Local Government Act 1995, Local Government (Functions and General) Regulations 1996 and any other relevant Commonwealth or State Government legislation.

The Harvey Community Precinct Reference Group was established in 2022 with the purpose of providing a platform where community representatives can give guidance and feedback on matters relating to the development of the Shire of Harvey’s Harvey Community Precinct.

With design development completed, and the project entering into the construction phase, the Shire of Harvey will provide quarterly updates to the Harvey Community Precinct Reference Group and any other interested stakeholders.

Stay updated via:

Shire of Harvey website

Shire of Harvey Facebook

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