By Luke Voogt
Campaigners have ridiculed the Geelong administrators’ decision to delay the closure of Highton and Chilwell libraries at a meeting Tuesday night.
Lynne Dowling was one of at least 200 people protesting the closure of three Geelong libraries.
“All we got was a stay of execution from the two dictators who told us their vision for our libraries,” she said. “We’re not giving up.”
The administrators decided to extend the closure date until 30 September for “community consultation” due to “strong public feedback”.
But former councillor Ron Nelson described the consultation as “token” given the “hangman’s noose” still hung over the libraries.
“I guess the administrators needed to save face. This new council is all about consultation and that certainly hasn’t occurred in this case.”
Mr Nelson said the Highton Library met all its key performance indicators, like visits per hour.
“I think (the administrators) needed to listen to the community before they even decided to close this library. Democracy is gone for the people of Geelong.”
Acting chair of administrators Laurinda Gardner told a packed gallery the Highton and Chilwell libraries would now close the same day as Barwon Heads Library.
“We’ve listened very carefully to the many passionate people who attended and spoke at tonight’s meeting, and taken on board the three petitions containing several thousand signatures,” she said.
But Ms Gardner said decision to move to a new model of library service was still in the “best interests” of Greater Geelong.
