News / Planning
First look at new Coburg library and piazza
Opposition hardens to another part of renewal plan
Mark Phillips
THE first images have been released of the new $60 million library and piazza to be built in central Coburg.
Merri-bek Council on Friday released details of the library and piazza that will take over most of a public car park on the corner of Waterfield and Victoria streets.
But another part of the council’s central Coburg renewal project faces a rocky road with community opposition growing against a proposed eight-storey building that would be located between the new library and the Upfield path.
The winning library and piazza design is by a team led by Sydney architectural practice Durbach Block Jaggers whose previous projects have included Commonwealth Place on Lake Burley-Griffin in Canberra.
Their design is for a four-storey, glass-fronted building that will face east and look over the new piazza.
The library would have total floor space of about 3000 square metres and include meeting rooms, a ground floor café, artists’ studios, makerspace, study areas and a multipurpose hall/event space.
The piazza will be about 2000 square metres in area and surrounded by trees, lawns and seating.
Merri-bek Mayor Nat Abboud said the designs have been released by the council for further community feedback.
“This design team has delivered an inspiring vision for a place of culture, connection, and possibility. It will be a civic heart for generations,” she said.
“The concept balances the rich culture and history of Coburg, while delivering on the community’s aspirations for the future. It creates a new central hub with open space for events, and opportunity for new ways to connect and come together.”
The winning design, from a final shortlist of four, was a unanimous choice by a jury chaired by Victorian Government Architect, Jill Garner.
She said features that won over the judges included its civic presence, solar orientation and “architectural delight”.
“It is a building that is both functional and expressive … The overall design concept is clear and well-resolved, enriched by subtle, characterful details that enhance amenity without compromising a delightful concept,” she said.
The design has been released following a council meeting on Wednesday night that signed off on the next stage of the ‘Coburg is here’ concept.
First announced in November, the council’s vision is to redevelop open air public car parking space as multi-storey residential apartment and retail buildings.It would see 1000 new apartments and townhouses, more retail, office and business space along with street upgrades.
The new piazza and library, which will begin construction in 2028, are the first stage of the concept to be developed.
Church opposes eight-storey building
But it is another part of the concept, an eight-storey building that would be positioned directly behind the library, that has drawn strong opposition with thousands of people signing a petition calling on the council to revise its plans by abandoning the building and leaving car parking untouched.
Opposition emerged during community engagement in November and December last year.
The building would be located directly opposite the Presentation of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria Street.
More than 4150 people have signed an online petition organised by church community members urging the council to revisit the central Coburg strategy and ensure the church is not adversely affected in the future.
The petition outlines concerns that the plan would place extra strain on parking and road infrastructure and would undermine the religious and community services delivered by the church.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, several councillors pushed unsuccessfully to have the eight-storey building removed from the concept.
Councillor Helen Politis said the placing of the new building directly in front of the church and separated only by a fairly narrow street would compromise access to the church.
She said it was causing distress and division in the community and threatened to hinder progress of the renewal project. Politis said the council should be prepared to look at other options for the pocket of land where the eight-storey building was proposed.
“We have had overwhelming feedback that this building placed where it is actually is potentially harmful to the community and can create a lot of negative outcomes rather than positive ones,” she said.
She was backed by councillor Katerine Theodosis who said a balance needed to be delivered between more housing in central Coburg and preserving existing community uses.
But councillors Adam Pulford and Liz Irvin said removing the building would risk the feasibility of the entire renewal project.
Pulford said the redevelopment of central Coburg needed to be looked at as a whole rather than carving out particular sections to continue as they are currently being used.
“I think it [removing the library building] really risks the project as a total because we’ve been looking at it completely and to section a part off, make a decision prematurely, it could really threaten the viability of the whole renewal program we want to do there,” he said.
“And we want to see change in that area because it is a sea of car parking at the moment.”
Added Irvin: “I think we have to be really careful about what we rule in or rule out at this stage and keep our options open and continue talking to the community.”
But councillor Helen Davidson disagreed and said a different iteration of the renewal concept would still be viable.
“We need to make concessions to the voices we are hearing right now and the need to shift things around a little bit so that we can have a progression that is reflective of the community now and moving forward,” she said.
Politis’ proposed amendment to remove the eight-storey building from the plans was defeated by five votes to four and the concept will now undergo another round of consultation.
