Around thirty people gathered behind the Old Shire Hall last Thursday afternoon to witness the turning of the first sod marking the symbolic commencement of the building of Dimboola’ new library.

Those present included the Victorian Minister for Local Government, the Honourable Adem Somyurek, Hindmarsh Shire Mayor Ron Ismay and a number of other Shire Councillors and officials, local state member Emma Kealy, the principals of two Dimboola schools, members of the Dimboola Town Committee, representatives of the Wimmera Regional Library Corporation and interested members of the community.

Hindmarsh Shire Council CEO, Greg Woods introduced Minister Somyurek (above) and then Mayor Ismay who both addressed the assembled crowd outlining the wider benefits of libraries beyond the traditional books, into other forms of media and even as a meeting place for the community

Minister Somyurek spoke of the importance of libraries, quoting that one million people borrow nine million books per year in Victoria, highlighting the importance of this service to the community.
Libraries are here, and here to stay - Adem Somyurek

Mayor Ismay acknowledged the work done by Phil King (Council’s Manager of Community and Economic Development) in bringing this project to this point, along with a number of other projects, such as the new roof on the stadium at the recreation reserve, the new changerooms at the netball courts and the pontoons on the Wimmera River.

The speeches were followed by Minister Somyurek symbolically turning the first sod for this project (below), assisted by Mayor Ismay.

The existing Old Shire Hall building will be retained and connected with the new building that will be constructed behind it. Once the new building has been completed and a new toilet block has been constructed, the existing toilet block will be demolished.

The area behind the new building which currently forms part of the car park, will be landscaped, and this will form the starting point of the Wimmera River Discovery Trail.

This project has been jointly funded through the Victorian Government’s Living Libraries Infrastructure Program and Hindmarsh Shire Council, with half of the $1.2 million cost being contributed by each.

It is anticipated that building work will commence by the middle of this year and be completed by April next year.