A local advocacy group is calling for an additional library in Sunbury, emphasising the importance of accessible libraries as spaces for studying and community connection.
DREAM Diggers Rest Advocacy group member and primary school teacher Tanya Harding said Sunbury Library at the Hume Global Learning Centre is an “incredible facility,” but feels it is geared more towards supporting the northern parts of Sunbury and is not easily accessible for parts of the suburb.
“It’s great it’s centrally located but … it’s just far enough away that walking there from the shopping precinct is impractical,” Ms Harding said.
She said she would welcome an additional library in Sunbury, even if smaller than the Sunbury Library.
“I think libraries are more than just a place to read books … to have a place that you can walk to, meet likeminded people … it’s about bringing the community together, having a safe space,” she said.
“There are quite a lot of disadvantaged families that might not have access to computers.”
She said she is concerned that when her children are high-school aged, they might not always have a designated place at home to study.
“It would be nice if they could get on a bus and go to local libraries and study with friends and test each other on exams … growing up, I had all of those things that I’d like them to have access to as well,” she said.
A report published by Infrastructure Victoria in 2021 recommended that Hume will “likely … need a new library in the next five years.”
A Hume spokesperson said that Hume has “three state-of-the-art Global Learning Centres, one of which we’re proud to say is in Sunbury.”
“Its location was chosen based on current and future planning needs, the current site being the most suitable and available at the time of construction,” the spokesperson said.
“Planning for more library services in Hume is currently recommended under the Victorian Infrastructure Plan … future provision of a new library in the Sunbury South Precinct Structure Plan is identified, we will continue to work with relevant stakeholders and the state government to advocate for services where and when they are needed.”
