Representatives from the Australian and Victorian Governments and the City of Greater Bendigo will gather on Friday to mark the commencement of work on a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of Heathcote's Community Hub.
The project has been supported with $2 million in funding from the Australian Government Growing Regions Program and $1 million funding from the Victorian Government Living Libraries Infrastructure Program with the remaining funds being contributed by the City of Greater Bendigo.
The project includes the development of a greatly expanded Library with tech hub and entry via High Street, multi-purpose community meeting and co-working spaces, outdoor community space, new accessible bathroom and parent and carer facilities, preservation works to maintain the heritage values of the building and landscaping of the rear courtyard.
When completed in the first half of 2027 the Community Hub will be home to the Heathcote Library and the City of Greater Bendigo's Customer Service and Maternal and Child Health Services.
City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the project is a major investment in Heathcote that will include refurbishment and expansion of the existing Victorian Heritage Register listed Municipal Office and former Court House buildings.
"The upgrades will help to preserve the heritage values of the buildings, bring them up to contemporary accessibility and multi-purpose standards and make them more energy efficient. It will be an important community hub that can support many different community needs, and uses, now and into the future," Cr Metcalf said.
"Community hubs are important for healthy, sustainable communities and the City is excited to see this project now underway."
Goldfields Libraries CEO Mark Hands said the project will effectively double the size of the Heathcote Library and enable Goldfields Libraries to increase their service delivery, programs and community activities.
"When completed Heathcote Library will meet the national library standard for floorspace area to accommodate Heathcote and District's future population growth," Mr Hands said.
"The new library will also introduce an expanded community technology hub with free public wifi throughout the building in response to the critical digital gap in Heathcote, where fewer homes have internet access."
While the works are underway the Heathcote Library is operating at the Heathcote Mechanics Institute, 121 High St, Heathcote, the City's Heathcote Customer Service Centre is operating from the Heathcote Visitor Centre, 106 High St, Heathcote and the City's Maternal and Child Health Service are operating from Heathcote Health, 39 Hospital Street.
