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Ku-ring-gai Library Site Plan of Management - No. 33

December 2003

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Vision

To provide a community based cultural facility which meets the social, educational and recreational needs of the community, and contributes to the character and heritage of the locality.

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C o n t e n t s CONTENTS..............................................................................................................................4

ABOUT THIS PLAN .................................................................................................................5

1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................6

1.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................6

1.2 History.......................................................................................................................................................................6

1.3 Categorisation .........................................................................................................................................................7

1.4 Core Objectives.......................................................................................................................................................8

1.5 Description of Land ................................................................................................................................................9

1.6 Use of Land Current and Permitted .................................................................................................................. 10

1.7 Future Development of the Land....................................................................................................................... 12

1.8 Scale and Intensity of permitted uses.............................................................................................................. 13

2. BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................15

2.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................... 15

2.2 Local and Regional Context............................................................................................................................... 15

2.3 Values and Issues................................................................................................................................................ 16

2.4 Leases/Licences................................................................................................................................................... 16

2.5 Leases/Licences Prohibited by the Plan.......................................................................................................... 17

2.6 Role......................................................................................................................................................................... 17

2.7 Vision ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17

3. PERFORMANCE TARGETS & STRATEGIES ..................................................................18

3.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................... 18

3.2 Asset Management and Maintenance .............................................................................................................. 19

3.3 Heritage, historical and cultural values ........................................................................................................... 20

3.4 Flexibility to ensure facilities meet demand.................................................................................................... 21

3.5 Vandalism and inappropriate use ..................................................................................................................... 22

3.6 Noise ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23

3.7 Waste and littering............................................................................................................................................... 24

3.8 Access.................................................................................................................................................................... 25

3.9 Safety and risk management ............................................................................................................................. 27

3.10 Sustainable management................................................................................................................................. 28

4. MONITORING PROGRAM.................................................................................................29

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A b o u t t h i s P l a n This plan of Management is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993 (as amended). It provides a strategic framework for management of the Ku-ring-gai Library Site located at 799 Pacific Highway, Gordon. Specific details about how actions are to be performed or achieved are not included. This approach allows flexibility and innovation in the implementation of the Plan. The Plan has been developed to:

• Meet Council’s obligations in respect to Public Land management under the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993 (as amended)

• Maximise the historical, research and recreational attributes provided by the Ku-ring-gai Library Site for both local residents and other users within the framework which recognises the historical values, diversity and constraints of the site.

• Conserve and/or enhance the features of the Ku-ring-gai Library Site and minimise external impacts upon the environment and adjoining residents.

• Maximise opportunities for the management and use of the Ku-ring-gai Library site in accordance with the Plan

• Provide a framework for the sustainable management of the Ku-ring-gai Library site

• Ensure that the Ku-ring-gai Library site is managed in a way which best serves its respective user groups and for a broad range of uses consistent with the Vision for the Library site.

• Enable Council to negotiate contracts, leases, licences, easements and hire of facilities in accordance with the performance targets of the Plan of Management.

• Identify the uses of the site without authorising specific proposals.

• Meet the objectives of Council’s Management Plan.

The Plan comprises four sections:

• Introduction (Chapter 1)

• Basis for Management (Chapter 2)

• Issues, performance targets and action plan (Chapter 3)

• Monitoring program (Chapter 4).

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1 . I n t r o d u c t i o n 1.1 Introduction

The site covered by this Plan is located at 799 Pacific Highway Gordon, includes the Old School Building, remnants of a stone walkway and gardens (known as the “Secret Garden”) and the Ku-ring-gai Library. The Police Station also located on this site is not included within this Plan of Management. The area covered by the Plan is shown in Figure 1.

Lots 3, 4 and 5 have been listed as a heritage item under the Ku-ring-gai Planning Scheme Ordinance. The Old School Building site (lot 3) and the civic square (lot 5) are zoned (a) Special Uses – Municipal Purposes and the library and police station (lot 4) are zoned 3 (b) – (b1) – Commercial Uses.

The Plan of Management is strategic in its focus and intentionally does not provide specific details with regard to how works or actions are to be performed/achieved. This approach has been taken to allow flexibility and innovation in implementation of the Plan to take advantage of opportunities and to recognise fluctuations in funding.

1.2 History

The land on which the Old School Building and Ku-ring-gai Library reside was purchased in four sections. Part of the land was purchased on 9 March 1876 from William Henry McIntosh. The land was part of a Crown grant of 100 acres to Benjamin Clayton, dated 30 June 1823. In 1887 part of this lot was resumed for the proposed North Shore Railway, leaving the school with two acres of land divided by a railway cutting. Additional land was purchased to the north of the original school building and residence was acquired under the Acquisition Act from Sarah Emily and William Charles Forster on 28 December 1887. Land to the south of the original school building and residence was purchased in two sections in 1891 from William Henry McIntosh and in 1923 from the AJS Bank.

The Old School building was built in late 1876, extended in 1896 and 1906, with major additions and remodeling in 1911-1913. The original school consisted of a school building with one large and one small classroom and an attached teacher’s residence. The architect was George Allen Mansfield and the builders William and Charles Henry Eaton. The school was known as Lane Cove Public School until November 1885. In 1896 a northern wing containing a classroom was added which was extended by 25 feet to the western side in 1906. In 1911 the teacher’s residence and small 1876 classroom was demolished and replaced with five additional classrooms, along with the extension of the northern classroom to the east to create two classrooms out of one.

Architecturally the old School building is of historical significance, and contains a steep gabled roof mostly trussed and covered with concrete roof tiles (presumably originally slate). Gable ends have arched timber-battening, finials and barge boards with cut out quatrefoils, and there are a number of stone chimneys in the Gothic style then popular for school buildings. Although expanded several times before 1914 and now only containing a small portion of the initial fabric, successive additions continued to respect the styling architectural integrity of the original Victorian Gothic Revival design.

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Ku-ring-gai Council opened its first library in the Council Chambers at Gordon on 24 November 1945. In July 1961 the Gordon branch moved to temporary accommodation before its new premises at the corner or Park and Pearsons Avenues were opened in October 1965.

In 1978 the Gordon Public School building was listed on the Register of the National Estate. In 1989 the Gordon Public School closed. The successful application was made to the Heritage Commission in 1989 for the old school building to be heritage listed. The Gordon Public School Site Committee was formed in 1990 and lobbied the Labor Council of NSW to address the continuation of community usage of the Old School Building site. The Labor Council advised Council of the placement of a Green Ban on the site in June 1990.

The building remained vacant up to 1990 until the Council purchased the site for $1. In December 1990 sections of Ku-ring-gai Library began occupation of the Old School Building, with Administration moving from temporary premises at Pymble and the Local Studies collection moving from Gordon branch. In 1991, Schwager Brooks & Partners Pty Ltd were employed through Ku-ring-gai Council to design a joint development for the Gordon Public School site incorporating a new Police Station, a new library incorporating the Gordon Branch and Library Administration, and a civic square in front of the building. On 15 February 1991 the new library opened. A Permanent Conservation Order under the Heritage Act 1977 was placed on the building in 1993 and the site was added to the State Heritage Register in 1999 (Figure 2).

1.3 Categorisation

Under division 2, Section 36, Clause 4 of the Local Government Act 1993 Plans of Management for Community Land must categorise the land covered by the Plan. The Act provides the following choices for categorisation:

• A Natural Area. • A Sportsground. • A Park. • An Area of Cultural Significance. • General Community use.

For the purpose of Section 36, Clause 4 this plan of Management categorises the various areas of the Ku-ring-gai Library Site as follows:

Categorisation Area

General Community Use Library

Underground Parking Area & Docking Bay

Civic Square

Outdoor Parking Area

“The Secret Garden”

Landscape Area

Area of Cultural Significance Gordon Public School Building

Well and Sundial

The spatial arrangement of the different categorisations is shown in Figure 1.

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1.4 Core Objectives

In accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993 the following core objectives apply to each of the categories of land within the Ku-ring-gai Library Site, as identified in Section 1.3 and Figure 1:

36H Core objectives for management of community land categorised as an area of cultural significance

(1) The core objectives for management of community land categorised as an area of cultural significance are to retain and enhance the cultural significance of the area (namely its Aboriginal, aesthetic, archaeological, historical, technical or research or social significance) for past, present or future generations by the active use of conservation methods.

(2) Those conservation methods may include any or all of the following methods:

(a) the continuous protective care and maintenance of the physical material of the land or of the context and setting of the area of cultural significance,

(b) the restoration of the land, that is, the returning of the existing physical material of the land to a known earlier state by removing accretions or by reassembling existing components without the introduction of new material,

(c) the reconstruction of the land, that is, the returning of the land as nearly as possible to a known earlier state,

(d) the adaptive reuse of the land, that is, the enhancement or reinforcement of the cultural significance of the land by the introduction of sympathetic alterations or additions to allow compatible uses (that is, uses that involve no changes to the cultural significance of the physical material of the area, or uses that involve changes that are substantially reversible or changes that require a minimum impact),

(e) the preservation of the land, that is, the maintenance of the physical material of the land in its existing state and the retardation of deterioration of the land.

(3) A reference in subsection (2) to land includes a reference to any buildings erected on the land. 36I Core objectives for management of community land categorised as general community use The core objectives for management of community land categorised as general community use are to promote, encourage and provide for the use of the land, and to provide facilities on the land, to meet the current and future needs of the local community and of the wider public:

(a) in relation to public recreation and the physical, cultural, social and intellectual welfare or development of individual members of the public, and

(b) in relation to purposes for which a lease, licence or other estate may be granted in respect of the land (other than the provision of public utilities and works associated with or ancillary to public utilities).

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1.5 Description of Land

The Ku-ring-gai Library Site is a multipurpose library, community centre and research facility. It provides a number of community based activities, with a high level of usage and input from local residents. The site consists of four distinct areas – the civic square, which is the paved area adjacent to the Pacific Highway incorporating the entrance into the police station and library; the strata titled library and police station building; the Old School Building connected to the northern side of the library and; the Secret garden to the east of the Old School building. Facilities within these areas include:

• Library incorporating both adult, children’s literature, and information on Ku-ring-gai’s history, character and identity.

• A training room

• An outdoor garden, “The Secret Garden”.

• A room used by the library for storage of community archives and Ku-ring-gai information.

• A room which houses the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society Inc.

• An outdoor civic square.

• Toilets including disabled toilets and baby changing facilities.

• 13 underground car spaces for library staff

• Small parking area for emergency vehicles located in front of the Old School Building, with room to accommodate nine vehicles.

• Reception/foyer area used as a community exhibition centre.

• Internet and email accessibility.

• Lockers

• Beverage vending machine

• A youth centre including two pool tables located in the main corridor of The Old School Building and an additional room, incorporating games and a socialising area.

• Kitchen.

• Two meeting rooms usually connected by common wall/door and used as one.

• Landscaped area

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1.6 Use of Land Current and Permitted

The Ku-ring-gai Library Site is being currently used for the following uses.

• Research.

• Social meeting point.

• Community space.

• Library.

• Study.

• Youth activities.

• Training (internal and external).

• Exhibition displays.

• Community group meetings and activities.

• Landscaping (including maintenance).

• Car parking.

• Community events (eg local school exhibitions and debates).

• Historical Society information centre.

• Education activities

• Recreation/cultural activities

• Council administration

• Casual and permanent room hire

This Plan of Management authorises all of the following uses for Ku-ring-gai Library Site excluding the Old School Building:

• Informal recreation and leisure activities (eg picnicking, reading).

• Car parking

• Library

• Landscaping (including maintenance)

• Youth services

• Community events (eg local school exhibitions and debates)

• Research facilities

• Historical information centre

• Training facilities*

• Community activities

• Community group meeting*

• Commercial activities (eg. Coffee cart)*

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This Plan of Management authorises all of the following uses for the Old School Building:

• Informal recreation and leisure activities (eg picnicking, reading).

• Youth services

• Community events (eg local school exhibitions and debates)

• Research facilities

• Historical information centre

• Training facilities*

• Community activities

• Community group meeting*

• Interpretive/educational displays and exhibitions

• Commercial activities limited to casual ad-hoc arrangements for activities such as Coffee cart, refreshments, internet facilities, book sales - limited to the meeting rooms and foyer area identified in Figure 3.*

*Where there is a conflict between activities, non-profit community groups will have precedence over other activities.

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1.7 Future Development of the Land

This plan of Management authorises, within the requirements of relevant legislation and council policy, the future development of Ku-ring-gai Library Site for the following purposes.

• Casual and permanent hire for recreation/cultural activities including community events

• Community group meetings and activities

• Passive recreation

• Community displays

• Training

• Low key commercial uses (e.g. café cart, vending machines) within the limits imposed by the Plan, existing zoning and requirements of relevant legislation.*

* The Ku-ring-gai Planning Scheme Ordinance includes a heritage incentives clause which allows a heritage listing building or listed land to be used for any purpose with consent. This means that even uses normally prohibited by a zoning can take place, if the conservation of the building or structure depends on that use and if there is no amenity effect. The clause reads:

Conservation incentives relating to heritage items

(Clause 61H added by Ku-ring-gai (Heritage Conservation) Local Environmental Plan No 1 vide Government Gazette No 99 of 6 October 1989)

61H (1) Nothing in this Ordinance prevents the Council from granting consent to -

(a) the use, for any purpose, of a building that is a heritage item or the land on which the building is erected; or

(b) the use, for any purpose, of a building, within a conservation area or the land on which the building is erected,

if it is satisfied that -

(c) the proposed use would have little or no adverse effect on the amenity of the area; and

(c) conservation of the building depends on the Council granting consent under this clause.

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1.8 Scale and Intensity of permitted uses

Use Scale Intensity

Public Library Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

Mon-Thurs 8.30am-9pm

Friday 8.30am – 9pm

Sat/Sun 8.30am – 9pm

Council Administration offices Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

24 hour 7 days a week

Community Group meetings, events and activities*

Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

7am to 11pm 7 days a week

Youth activities Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

Tues-Thurs 3.30 –8.30pm

Casual or Permanent room hire (internal and external users)*



Research Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

Within opening hours of the Library as listed above

Social meetings* Limited to physical constraints of available facilities


Study Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

Mon-Thurs 10am-9pm

Friday 10am – 6pm

Sat/Sun 10am – 5pm

Training (internal and external)* Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

Mon-Fri 7am-9pm

Sat/Sun 10am – 5pm

Exhibition and displays Limited to physical constraints of available facilities


Landscaping Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

24 hours 7 days a week.

The Secret Garden Limited to physical constraints of available facilities


Car parking Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

24 hours 7 days a week. Some spaces may have time limits which must be adhered to.

Recreation/Leisure activities Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

External areas – within daylight hours only

Internal areas – within opening hours of the Library as listed above

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Ku-ring-gai Historical Society Information centre



Archive storage Limited to physical constraints of available facilities

24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Education activities (eg. Book week events)*



Commercial activities* Limited to physical constraints of available facilities


*Where there is a conflict between activities, non-profit community groups will have precedence over other activities.

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2 . B a s i s f o r m a n a g e m e n t

2.1 Introduction

The Basis of Management is the driving force of the Plan that will guide management of the Ku-ring-gai Library Site over the next 15 years. It incorporates the core values of the site, which are reflected in the vision and role of the Ku-ring-gai Library Site.

2.2 Local and Regional Context

The Ku-ring-gai Library site is significant within a local and regional context for the following reasons:

• The School building, built in 1876, was intended to be the main school for the Upper North Shore area and remained as a school until December 1989. The Old School building is locally and regionally significant in regards to the building’s role as an educational institution on the Upper North Shore.

• The site has contained the Ku-ring-gai Library since 1990 as a service to the local and regional community.

• The site also contains meeting rooms which are hired by various community groups from the region including the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society Inc. who also use the site to research, store and disseminate historical information.

• Youth services are available at the site for the youth of the region.

• The site provides training facilities for the local and regional community.

• The site is listed on the State Heritage Register and the Register of the National Estate

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2.3 Values and Issues

The following values of the site and issues relating to its management have been identified:

Values Issues

Historical, heritage and cultural significance Asset management and maintenance

Community significance Historical, heritage & Cultural

Educational Flexibility to ensure facilities meet demand

Commercial Leasing

Youth activities Impact on adjoining properties

Asset Vandalism and Inappropriate Use

Amenity Noise

Waste and littering

Access

Safety and Risk management

Sustainability

2.4 Leases/Licences

The grant of a lease, licence, or other estate in respect of so much of the land to which this land applies, as comprises the Ku-ring-gai Library site as defined in Figure 1 is hereby expressly authorised:

(a) for any purpose for which the land was being used at the date this plan was adopted (or, for any purpose referred to in Clause 1.6 of this Plan); or

(b) for any other purpose prescribed by Section 46 of the Local Government Act, 1993, or the Regulation made there under.

The granting of leases licenses and other estates must be consistent with the core objectives of the land's categorisation by this Plan of Management (General Community Use and Area of Cultural Significance) as referred to in Section 1.2 of this Plan.

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2.5 Leases/Licences Prohibited by the Plan

The Plan of Management prohibits leases, licences and other estates being granted at the Ku-ring-gai Library site for the following:

• Activities prohibited by the zoning of the land unless otherwise enabled through the operation of 6IH(1) of the Ku-ring-gai Planning Scheme Ordinance. (Refer to section 1.7)

• Activities which are not in accordance with the aims and/or objectives of this Plan

2.6 Role

To provide a range of community based education and recreation activities which produces a positive contribution to the local environment and community whilst maintaining or enhancing the cultural, heritage and historical significance of the site.

2.7 Vision

To provide a community based education and recreation facility which meets the needs of the community and contributes to the character and heritage of the locality.

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3 . P e r f o r m a n c e t a r g e t s & s t r a t e g i e s

3.1 Introduction

This section outlines the issues pertaining to the Ku-ring-gai Library Site, and the performance targets to address these issues within the framework set in the Basis for Management.

Actions are grouped in terms of the issues and performance targets presented in Section 3 namely: asset management and maintenance, heritage, historical and cultural values of the building, flexibility of building use, noise, waste and littering, access, safety and risk management, vandalism and inappropriate use, and sustainable management.

This section of the Plan of Management also outlines the strategies that will be implemented to achieve the objectives. Each strategy has been attributed a timeframe which is indicative of its relative priority.

High within 12 months.

Medium within 3 years.

Low within 5 years.

Ongoing throughout time as the Plan of Management is in operation.

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3.2 Asset Management and Maintenance

Issues

It is important that all assets are appropriately managed and maintained to ensure that appropriate levels of service can be provided. Asset management and maintenance includes, but is not limited to; the review of assets, the provision of condition reports on the site as well as building inspections.

The method of management for the Ku-ring-gai Library Site is an essential issue for Council as the Site is not only a venue for the local community, but it also contains specialised equipment for specific purposes. The management functions for the facilities include:

• Managing the building on a day to day basis.

• Managing bookings for various activities.

• Operating and maintaining the building and its facilities.

• Managing and undertaking general maintenance on the contents of the building including the multimedia collection in the library.

• Complying with the Local Government Act and any lease/licence agreements.

• Ensuring that a wide range of uses for the local community is achieved.

• Asset Management Program.

There are additional management and maintenance factors which are required to be taken into consideration for the Old School Building on the site. The site is covered by a conservation plan and any maintenance or management of this building shall be consistent with the conservation plan to ensure the heritage, historical and cultural integrity of the building is maintained.

Performance Target Strategy Priority

To provide an agreed level of asset management and maintenance for the Ku-ring-gai Library site.

To manage the Old School Building in accordance with the Conservation Plan prepared by Schwager Brooks & Associates (1991).

Identify agreed standards of maintenance and asset management

Prepare and implement maintenance and asset management programs.

Review maintenance and asset management programs and service delivery standards on an annual basis.

Asset maintenance is carried out in accordance with the Conservation Plan.

High

High

Ongoing

Ongoing

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3.3 Heritage, historical and cultural values

Issue

The retention of the heritage, and historical and cultural values of the Ku-ring-gai Library Site is dependent on recognition and conservation of the original school building. Being a collection of structures with finite life spans, the Site may require specific renovation over time. A Conservation Plan developed by Schwager Brooks & Partners in 1991 for the Old School Building provides guidance on conservation and maintenance of the building and the requirements of the conservation plan shall be adhered to for any future renovation which may be required.

Any improvements planned for the Site shall be completed in a manner which respects the cultural and historical values of the Site and be in keeping with the original design intent.


To retain, promote and interpret the heritage value of the Ku-ring-gai Library site within financial constraints.

Any activity or works must not decrease the heritage significance of the site.

Activities and uses must consider the heritage values of the site.

Maintenance activities will not impinge on heritage significance of the site.

High

High

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3.4 Flexibility to ensure facilities meet demand

Issue

The Ku-ring-gai Library site has the potential to be used for a wide range of uses by the community. The site is currently used for meetings, community groups (eg. Historical Society), archiving, library resources, youth centre, training centre and council staff administration. Management of the site requires flexibility to allow for a multiple of uses to be undertaken at the site concurrently without disturbance from other users. Management of the site will also require flexibility to allow for changes in community demand for the site over time.


To identify community demand for facilities at the Ku-ring-gai Library site

To encourage multiple, compatible usage of facilities at the Ku-ring-gai Library site.

To ensure the range, scale and intensity of uses is consistent with the core objectives.

Utilise existing information and feedback sources to identify demand which can be accommodated at the site.

Encourage and give preference to those activities/usage of facilities which allow multiple use of facilities.

Discourage exclusive use of facilities.

High

Medium and ongoing

Medium and ongoing

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3.5 Vandalism and inappropriate use

Issue

Vandalism and use resulting in property damage is a widespread issue that affects many civic and other public areas in Ku-ring-gai including the facilities at the Ku-ring-gai Library Site.

Acts of vandalism include:

• Graffiti.

• Damage to buildings.

• Damage to equipment.

• Theft of or damage to property.

• Damage to trees and other vegetation.

In addition to the cost of repair, the community is also disadvantaged by vandalism through the loss of availability of facilities.

The risk of being caught and the prompt repair of vandalised facilities have been identified as good deterrents to vandalism.


To minimise the potential for the actual occurrence of vandalism to the facilities at the Ku-ring-gai Library site.

Develop and implement a reporting system to provide for immediate response to damage or vandalism

Ensure facilities are of appropriate design and construction and are well maintained to reduce motivation factors for vandalism and security breaches.

Low

Ongoing

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3.6 Noise

Issue

The issue of noise is in essence of a minor nature. Traffic noise from the Pacific Highway and North Shore Railway Line are low, with no complaints from library staff or visitors recorded.

Noise protruding from the youth centre during opening hours has been noted from persons using the training rooms located next door. However, as the meeting rooms are rarely occupied when the youth centre is open, this issue is again of a minor nature.


To minimise the impacts of noise on surrounding lands, users of the library and users of the meeting rooms are not impacted from noise from traffic, trains and activities within the Ku-ring-gai Library site.

Identify potential noise issues at the Ku-ring-gai Library site and implement appropriate responses to reduce these impacts

Medium and ongoing

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3.7 Waste and littering

Issue

Bins are adequately located throughout the library, old school building, “Secret Garden” and civic square. There have been some issues noted regarding excess amounts of rubbish lying on the ground, with bins emptied at regular intervals. However in the landscaped area, located at the rear of the Old School Building, and carpark significant amounts of waste have been recorded.


To reduce the amount of littering throughout the Ku-ring-gai Library site.

Identify areas of high littering occurrences and provide appropriate facilities and/or education to reduce this occurrence.

Medium

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3.8 Access

There are various types of access issues affecting the Ku-ring-gai Library site. These include:

• Footpaths. • Vehicular access. • Physical access. • Access for people from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse background. • Access for persons visually impaired. • Signage.

Pedestrian access Not all users travel to the Ku-ring-gai Library Site by car. Adequate footpaths are therefore important to enable all members of the community to have equal access to the facilities.

Vehicular Access Limited parking is available on the site. There is underground parking for staff, however anecdotal evidence has shown that this can be inadequate. The parking lot at the front of the Old School Building is very limited and designed primarily for training staff, authorised and emergency vehicles only. The site contains two disabled parking spaces, with the possibility of incorporating a further two disabled car spaces within the car park at the rear of the Old School Building. Ku-ring-gai Library discourages, through limited on-site public parking, its visitors to drive to the library. A parking lot situated in Werona Ave, opposite the library, contains sufficient public parking, however these spaces are time restricted to two hours. The Wade lane carpark has limited three hour limited parking spaces which are available for site users and visitors.

Disabled Access This relates to providing access to the Ku-ring-gai Library Site for all members of the community. The site currently has a ramp to access the front foyer of the library and a lift from the car park to the public library level and staff administration level of the building. The car park underneath the building contains two disabled parking spaces, however there is limited signage to indicate the existence and location of these spaces.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Anti Discrimination Act 1977 made it law for public places such as the Ku-ring-gai Library Site to be accessible to people with a disability. In response the Council’s Access Policy provides the following:

Objective 3 – provide Access to Public and Recreational Facilities:

• Seek a commitment from the public authorities to systematically audit property so that access meets the intent of the Local Approval policy or AS1428 – 1998 whichever is the better.

• Make all appropriate authorities aware of the Council’s Access Committee and its policy requirements.

• Ensure all new Councils recreational facilities (eg parks, walking tracks etc) access are systematically audited so the access meets the intent of the Local Approvals Policy or AS1428 – 1988 whichever is the better.

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• Ensure that all existing council recreational facilities (eg parks, walking tracks etc) are systematically audited so the access meets the intent of the Local Approval Policy or AS 1428 – 1988 whichever is the better.

Access For Visually Impaired Persons Facilities for visually impaired persons within the library include large print books, “talking “ books and info-zoom equipped Internet computers. However the infrastructure needed to guide visually impaired persons within the building and surrounding outdoor areas is insufficient.

Access By People from Culturally and/or Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds The main issue that affect the usage of the Ku-ring-gai Library Site by people from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse background relate to:

• A lack of awareness of Meeting Room availability for hire to any group or individual for any purpose permitted by this Plan of Management.

• A lack of awareness that the community activities undertaken at the facilities are available to all eg vacation care, childcare services etc.


To provide adequate and safe pedestrian access to and within the Ku-ring-gai Library site within resource constraints.

To formalise existing access and parking within existing areas.

To provide adequate disabled access to the Ku-ring-gai Library site within resource constraints

To provide safe access to and within the Ku-ring-gai Library site for visually impaired persons within resource constraints.

To promote and provide access to culturally diverse and linguistically diverse backgrounds to the Ku-ring-gai Library site

Audit access of the Ku-ring-gai Library site.

Identify potential access issues.

Prepare and implement an access plan to improve access to within the site within Conservation Plan requirements.

Increase community awareness of the variety of resources and facilities available at the Ku-ring-gai Library site access within resource constraints.

High and ongoing

High and ongoing

High and ongoing

High and ongoing

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3.9 Safety and risk management

Issue

Safety and risk management are interrelated as the objectives and strategies to effectively deal with both are complementary.

Essentially, positive management of safety and risk relates to:

• Community feedback on safety performance.

• Identification of potential risks, and subsequent rectification.

• Simplification of design, so as not to place adverse complexity onto areas which may pose future safety risks.

• An appropriate documentation system, incorporating past safety performance, which is then calibrated together with future potential risks.

• A relevant site inspection and maintenance program.

Ku-ring-gai Library and the original school building provide a safe working place for staff and the general public to undertake various research methods, be they business or pleasure. Staff are trained for various emergencies, with sufficient first aid and fire reduction materials located throughout the premises.


To provide a safe environment to staff and visitors to the Ku-ring-gai Library site.

Identify and assess potential hazards on the site

Formulate and implement a risk management plan

Ensure lease and licence agreements include requirements for OH&S

Biannual safety audits to be undertaken by council to minimise risks to users and operational staff

High

High and ongoing

High and ongoing

Ongoing

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3.10 Sustainable management

Issue

The Local Government Act 1993 includes a Charter for Councils (Section 8). This Charter includes the following:

“to properly manage, develop, protect, restore, enhance and conserve the environment of the area for which it is responsible, in a manner that is consistent with and promotes the principles of ecologically sustainable development”

Sustainable management in the context of this site includes issues such as:

• Energy management

• Resource use

• Waste management

• Landscape treatments

• Stormwater reuse.


To incorporate sustainable practices in management and use of the Ku-ring-gai Library site.

Sustainable practices are a consideration in all aspects of management and use of the site.

In conjunction with users investigate measures that can be employed to reduce the environmental impacts of the site.

Ongoing

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4 . M o n i t o r i n g P r o g r a m The strategy plan will be reviewed every two years unless the land is reclassified operational via a Local Environmental Plan in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993. The review will include:

• A report on the progress of the Plan

• Recommendations for alterations (if applicable) to the strategy plan.

• Any other necessary changes due to new usage trends.

The performance targets will be reviewed every 5 years. However, if significant social, demographic or physical changes take place in the intervening period then this section would need to be significantly revisited in accordance with those changes.

The core values held by the community as listed in Section 2.3 are unlikely to change over the 15 year time frame, However, the relative importance of each value may increase or decrease. These changes in importance of core values needs to be reflected in annual changes in the strategy plan. However, significant changes in the relative importance of core values will necessitate the need for a completely new plan to be prepared.

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