The Border Watch: March 13, 2009

Weekend

KEEPING THE SOUTH EAST INFORMED SINCE 1861

Friday, Ma March 13, 2009

32 PAGES OF

6IEP )WXEXI +YMH I Friday, March

Classic Victorian homestead

Don’t wait until Winter, get your window replaced NOW. s

BW491051

+ + =

owned and operated

NARACOORTE RACING FORM GUIDE

- page 18

s page 29

, In with the New

Call your locally

13, 2009

Open inspection

Out with the Old

$1.00 inc. GST

4 PAGE LIFTOUT

The South East’s Leading Real Estate Guide

REAL ESTATE

INSIDE

Edition

window replaceme

nt specialists

on (08) 8725 0733,

Display centre

33 Crouch St

South, Mt Gambier

- www.mountglass.com

.au

BW493072

INSIDE TODAY: YOUR FOUR DAY TELEVISION GUIDE > PAGES 27 & 28

Library rates slug pAn artist’s impression of the new multi-million-dollar library which is scheduled to open before Christmas this year.

BY SANDRA MORELLO Email: [email protected]

MOUNT Gambier’s new $8.5m public library is expected to push up rates for property owners across the city, with new figures showing the facility will have a $640,000 negative cash impact on council’s yearly operating budget. The state-of-the-art library is expected to have an overall $1m impact on council’s yearly budget when depreciation is considered. This estimate is considered significant given council raises

volatility in financial markets. Under the proposal, the new library will operate seven days a week, but will only generate about $200,000 in income each year, including government grants. Corporate and community services director Grant Humphries said yesterday libraries did not generate significant amounts of money and warned the new facility would push up rates. “It will have a reasonable impact on rates,” Mr Humphries told The Border Watch yesterday. “There is no doubt there will be extra costs that council will need to manage.

Mount Gambier today - Possible evening shower. 28o – page 47

TV GUIDE

“The new library will have a yearin and year-out cost to council.” With construction already in full swing and an opening date set before Christmas, Mr Humphries said council would need to access $4m now to kickstart the development, which is one of the biggest community infrastructure projects in council’s history. While conceding the pressure it would cause on rates, Mr Humphries said council had been building the major projects fund to spread the impact. He said the council also received about $90,000 from the State Government to run the library.

COMICS

Pages 27-28

Page 31

Mr Humphries said the current library attracted more than 170,000 people a year and this number was continuing to rise. “Patronage will increase dramatically at the new library, given its change in direction and that it is a bigger and better facility,” he said. Mr Humphries said the new library would be considered as possibly the best in Australia, with its only other rival the Castle Hill Library in Sydney. “The new library will have a lot more programs and a lot more facilities aimed at all age groups,” he said.

CLASSIFIEDS

Pages 33-39

BW481566

Drive your way

WEATHER

only $11m in rates and has a total operating budget of $21m. At this week’s Corporate and Community Services Committee, members discussed whether the first $4m needed for the project should be siphoned from council’s $5m reserve funds or borrowed. It is not known how much council will need to borrow for the entire $10.5m project, including peripheral works, as a funding application has been lodged with the Federal Government. At the committee meeting, discussion also focused on whether any money borrowed should be for a fixed rate or variable, given

COMING SOON

$12,990

driveaway

HYUNDAI from

$19,990

driveaway

HYUNDAI from

HYUNDAI

$22,990

driveaway

from

One of the most exciting offerings of 2009

Corner Percy & Crouch Street, Mount Gambier – SALES HOTLINE (08) 8721 3400, Joe Clarke 0418 849 203 LVD 2545