The City of Victor Harbor has recently relocated to its new Civic Centre and Library.Designed in accordance with current environmentally sustainable development (ESD) practices, the complex was officially opened by South Australian Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson on 30 May.
Mayor of the City of Victor Harbor, Councillor Mary-Lou Corcoran, believes the new centre will provide valuable opportunities for Shire residents, while promoting important environmental issues. The Mayor is particularly impressed by community support of the new facility.
“There was just a great atmosphere,” she said. “It was great to see more than 300 people at the opening. All the schoolkids lined the street to welcome the Governor.
“The new centre is absolutely fantastic and has been built for the growing economy of Victor Harbor, which continues to experience an annual growth of three per cent.”
While growth is having some negative impacts on the environment, the Mayor believes the new centre is an example of a more sustainable approach for future infrastructure.
“We’ve been instructed to shut our landfill by 2011, but by using materials recycled from the demolition of the old centre in the new building we reduced landfill,” Councillor Corcoran said. “Our three bin system for green, recycling and waste is also reducing waste by 70 per cent.”
The Civic Centre and Library boasts an electric boosted solar hot water system and is powered with green energy. Indigenous species that don’t require watering after the first year have been planted and the use of unshaded areas reduces the need for artificial light.
A large glass atrium connects Council offices to the Library. The Library is four times larger than the original building, and has been fitted with state of the art scanning technology for borrowing. But the Mayor believes the best aspect of the new facility is its location opposite Victor Harbor High School.
“I love the fact that youth are using the new facilities, and at the same time are learning about Local Government,” she said. “So I suppose we’re really learning together, which is just fantastic.”
