Coffs Harbour Cultural and Civic Space Project Update
July 2020

Hi all,

Detailed design is progressing for the Cultural and Civic Space project, with council working groups and the design team functioning well together.

During the month, Matthew Blair, BVN Principal Architect for the Cultural and Civic Space, paid a visit to Coffs Harbour. It’s surprising how much can be accomplished over video-conference, but some things are just better face to face.

During his time here, Matthew met with Mayor Denise Knight, where they discussed the progress of the project and visited the site. He also made time to meet with a group of enthusiastic young people at Toormina library to get their feedback and ideas on the library youth space, one of three youth space meetings conducted during this month.

Read on to hear what our young people imagine for their youth space, the provisions being made for disability access and questions from the community on our Have Your Say Page.

The Project Office team.

Image: Mayor Denise Knight and BVN Principal architect Matthew Blair standing next to the majestic Hills Weeping fig tree in Riding Lane.

Youth Space

Within the new central library there will be a custom designed youth space, usual in modern libraries, but a first for Coffs Harbour. We chatted with different groups of young people over the past few weeks to get their feedback on what kinds of furniture and technology they would like to see in the space, as well as what kinds of things they would do in the space if they were to walk in today. Some of their suggestions included:

All Welcome

One of the key principles of this project is that of All Welcome. To be made welcome in a place means to provide a space in which everyone feels safe and comfortable, like a lounge room for the CBD.

Depending on your needs, All Welcome will mean different things, and in the case of people with disabilities, being able to access and use a space is a key part of feeling welcome. BVN Architect Phillip Rowden recently presented to Council’s Access committee on the various access provisions incorporated within the plans of the building, including:

Community Questions from our Have Your Say Page

The cultural and community facets of the building - library, museum and art gallery, cafe, co-working spaces, and the large multi-purpose space - will make Coffs Harbour a better place to live and visit, for both the Coffs Harbour CBD and the Coffs Harbour area.

Investing in cultural and social infrastructure such as the Cultural and Civic Space builds community cohesion, resilience and equips residents for the future. In addition, studies have shown that cultural facilities positively influence perceptions of liveability, supporting adjacent businesses and generating considerable tourism spending when hosting major exhibitions.

Cultural facilities support local people to tell the stories of the communities they reside in, creating and building upon a sense of identity relating to place, civic pride, and increasing educational and even health outcomes. By offering residents and visitors spaces to meet, work, study and collaborate, Coffs Harbour City Council is supporting education, enterprise, start-ups, remote working opportunities and more.

If you have a question you would like to ask the project office, you have lots of options!

·         Visit our Have Your Say page and ask us a question;

·         Visit our Facebook page;

·         Email the Project Office at ccsproject@chcc.nsw.gov.au 

The project team will continue to provide you with timely updates on the Cultural and Civic Space project.

To talk to a member of our project team email us at ccsproject@chcc.nsw.gov.au or call us on 66484198