Oran Park library for the 21st century wins major award

The new 21st century library and community resource centre at Oran Park Town has taken out the prestigious Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue award for Outstanding Community Project of 2018.

The award was presented to project partners Landcom, Greenfields Development Company and Camden Council last night (Thursday, 8 November) at the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Greater Western Sydney Project of the Year Awards at the Boomtown! Dinner in Sydney.

Landcom chief executive officer John Brogden said the library and community resource centre was one of several important facilities delivered by Landcom and Greenfields as part of the Oran Park Town project.

“Many people would remember Oran Park as a racetrack.  Over the past decade it has transformed into one of the most exciting, growing towns in Sydney,” Mr Brogden said.

“The Oran Park Town Library combines the best architecture with a brilliant community facility.

“The library is the latest piece of community infrastructure, with several parks already open and more to come, such as a community centre, skate park, parkour facility and basketball courts.

“The library design was a combined effort between Camden Council, Landcom, Greenfields and architects Brewster Hjorth.

“It is a fun place of learning, and its facilities are interactive to encourage collaboration.

“This award is recognition for delivery of a landmark building for Oran Park Town that will be a valuable community asset today and for generations to come.”

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue director Adam Leto said entries were assessed against criteria from the Six Pillars of Greater Western Sydney, an aspirational framework reflecting its stakeholders’ collective view of the principles that best guide the region’s development.

“The Oran Park library project particularly impressed us with its expression of the Dialogue’s vision of a connected, productive, liveable and smart and sustainable Greater Western Sydney,” Mr Leto said.

Greenfields development company director Mark Perich said the library and community resource centre was located in the heart of Oran Park Town and formed an integral part of the civic precinct, which included the new council building, Oran Park podium shopping centre, commercial space and a smart work hub.

“The library is designed in zones to enable different stages of learning, and includes performance spaces, interactive screens, and doors that open the building onto outside activities,” Mr Perich said.

“The library’s interior design celebrates the town’s history as a race track, incorporating artworks made from car and motorcycle parts and grid motifs on the carpet and walls.

“We are very proud of what we are achieving at Oran Park Town, and to be recognised by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue with community project of the year is great validation for our project.”

Camden Mayor Peter Sidgreaves said the library has been well received by the community, with a remarkable number of residents joining since it opened in June this year.

“Residents of all ages have welcomed this new public facility and embraced it as a place to relax, learn and socialise as well as connect with the latest technologies,” Cr Sidgreaves said.

“The additional community meeting rooms, function rooms and industrial kitchen also create places for workshops and provide lifelong learning opportunities to residents,” he said.

[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“So far 1,189 people have become library members, with staff signing up more people every day.”[/social_quote]

The 2,500 square metre multi-purpose library building includes a community resource centre, providing a new place for community groups to meet.

The facility was built by ADCO Constructions and includes sustainable features, such as a 90,000 litre rainwater tank, efficient LED lighting and movement sensors, and a system to monitor energy and water consumption.

It was delivered as part of a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) that will fund more than $200 million of essential infrastructure to ensure Oran Park Town is a well serviced and attractive community.

Oran Park Town is one of the largest master planned communities in NSW, and will provide 10,000 lots for 30,000 residents over the next 20 years.

Landcom has delivered 2,700 lots and Greenfields will deliver more than 7,000 lots.

Oran Park Town received the Urban Taskforce Australia’s Development Excellence Award for a masterplanned community development in 2017.

To see a video of Oran Park Town Library, go to https://vimeo.com/299763784