26th of November 2024, 6:43pm
Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan):
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Local Government and it relates to the upgrade of the St Albans Library. We are heading for another record-breaking summer, with more extreme hot days and longer heatwaves. If you live in the outer growth areas of Melbourne’s west you may well be in for a truly hellish summer.
The western suburbs have fewer green spaces and more heat-absorbing urban spaces than in those green and leafy eastern or bayside suburbs and as a result are typically 4 to 5 degrees hotter. On top of that the outer west has some of the most socially disadvantaged areas in the state, including Brimbank, Melton and Wyndham.
VCOSS has identified a close correlation between lower socio-economic communities and the risks posed by extreme heat. In short, those living in the hottest areas tend to be the least able to keep cool. With few public swimming pools, limited access to beaches, few community spaces offering respite from the heat and pathetic public transport to get to any of those places, where do people go to find some relief from the devastating effects of extreme heat? The answer is often public libraries.
Libraries are among the last bastions of community space that offer refuge during crises from heatwaves and from loneliness. They provide a welcoming space for all. Libraries deliver bang for buck too. According to Infrastructure Victoria, every dollar invested in libraries reaps $4.30 in economic and social benefits.
The St Albans Library serves one of the most multicultural communities in Australia and one of the most disadvantaged in the state, and it is in urgent need of an upgrade. The building’s cramped spaces and ancient facilities significantly reduce the service offerings to the community, even with all the incredible work of its staff.
Brimbank council requested $5 million in this year’s budget for the redevelopment of the St Albans Library to support lifelong learning, promote inclusivity and connection and provide welcome respite from extreme heat. Regrettably, that request was knocked back, so the action I seek is for the minister to fund the renovation of this vital community asset in the 2025–26 budget.
[Awaiting response]
