New library on wish list

A transitional building community centre for Bishopdale is among the wish list of community board members lobbying for a piece of a $5 million fund.

The Fendalton-Waimairi Board will meet this week to discuss what projects it will ask city council to fund out of the Capital Endowment Fund.

Last month council gave the thumbs up to the process for allocating the $5.3 million set aside for "one-off recovery or transitional projects, events or undertakings."

Community board chairwoman Val Carter and city councillor Jamie Gough confirmed that a transitional facility for the Bishopdale Library and Community Centre was among the priorities.

The library and community centre closed last year due to earthquake damage and businesses in the southern end of Bishopdale Mall have been severely impacted by the lack of foot traffic to the library.

"Obviously one of the key projects will be the Bishopdale community centre - the rebuild or interim replacement of that facility is still at the top of my list," said Mr Gough.

He said this would not prevent him looking at other projects in the ward and he would look at it on a "needs basis".

Ms Carter said with a dearth of community facilities in the area, a gathering place for groups was a priority.

"We have got no large community centres where people and groups can meet, so we do need to push on this."

She said the Bishopdale centre, the Fendalton Community Centre and the St Barnabas Church were among the replacement or repair projects she was looking at.

"But we must keep our options open because there are broad demands in the area and new project which we have not been made aware of may come up," she said.