Community claims Burleigh Heads library closure kept secret
Locals are calling on the City of Gold Coast to reveal details over its decision to shut down their Burleigh Heads Library saying they are “heartbroken” by the plan.
Community concerns are growing over claims the City of Gold Coast decided to shut down their Burleigh Heads Library back in April, but didn’t share the news with the community until less than two months before closure.
Records show the decision was made as part of the Special Budget Committee process on April 2, and the announcement was then made on June 11 for a closure on July 24.
The City of Gold Coast claims a number of aggressive incidents from community members in the past few weeks had influenced the decision, and said community consultation was not required for a decision of this nature.
It claims to have plans to instead support further investment in Burleigh Waters Library, saying customer demand was 34 per cent higher at that site than Burleigh Heads Library.
Now Burleigh MP Hermann Vorster has launched a community petition calling on the council to reverse its decision to now repurpose the library building as a temporary arts hub.
The petition has attracted an estimated 3000 signatures in 10 days after being displayed in local sporting clubs, schools, childcare centres, and community markets.
You might like
Vorster said the Gold Coast has had to fight harder than anywhere to protect its lifestyle, culture and identity.
“Residents are exhausted by council decisions that are ‘done to them’ rather than in consultation with them,” Vorster said.
“It is a powerful expression of democracy and symbolically means there are 3000 people walking in with local councillor Josh Martin to demand change.”
Local councillor Josh Martin opposed the closure and then voted against the city budget in protest, announcing he would now table the petition at the next council meeting on July 28.
At that stage, council can accept the petition and refer it to a committee for investigation or reject it and take no further action.
“I am optimistic that there is still time for council to reconsider the closure based on new information they did not have on hand at the time,” Vorster said.
Stay informed, daily
Earlier this week, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the area “could potentially” be converted into a bus interchange, though that decision is up to the Queensland Government.
Sarah-Leigh McMahon, a concerned member of the community said Burleigh Heads Library is the beating heart of the community.
“The closure of it disproportionately disadvantages women, children, and our older community,” McMahon said.
On the topic of the aggressive incidents that council cited as inspiring the closure, McMahon claimed this to be false.
“I honestly believe it’s just to tarnish us,” McMahon said. “I have been one of the main people involved in collecting signatures and I have not witnessed one incident, so I am going to be chasing that up because I feel it’s libellous.”
McMahon added that when Palm Beach Library closed in 2020, Burleigh Heads Library was the suggested replacement – now six years later, Burleigh Waters is angled as the replacement for Burleigh Heads Library.
“That time round [in 2020], they did go for public consultation, and there was a huge outcry, but they closed anyway,” McMahon said. “And in their infinite wisdom, they have timed it so that just after the closure of ours, the Burleigh Waters one is going to close for refurbishment.”
McMahon adds that the Burleigh Heads Library underwent its own refurbishment only two years ago.
Linda Daley, a French expat who claims to have found community in the library, officially became an Australian citizen the same day the library’s closure became public, which she said made the news particularly emotional.
“It is genuinely multi-generational and one of the rare public places where everyone belongs, regardless of age, background or income,” Daley said.
“Burleigh Heads Library could hardly be more central. It is close to schools, the community kindy, local businesses, the beach and just metres from the future light rail terminal.”
Sophie de Jager, a young mum who only found out last week that her 11-month-old’s favourite Rhyme Time session would be the last one said she was heartbroken by council’s decision.
“Judging a library’s worth solely on borrowing numbers completely ignores how busy and essential this space is to our community every single day,” she said.
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
