Councillors and City of Greater Bendigo staff inspected the $9 million project with Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell yesterday. 

Contract Control Services project manager Matthew Bell said the works were running smoothly. 

“The whole front of the building has been removed, the inside has been completely gutted and stripped back to a concrete shell,” he said. 

“The next stage involves structural steel erection onsite and installation of precast panels.”

Mr Bell said the work could be finished ahead of the schedule. 

“We’re trying to give an early Christmas present,” he said. 

The new library will be 243 square metres larger than its  predecessor, with flexible multi-purpose zones, a dedicated children’s space and upgraded technology. 

Project director Marg Allan said almost three years of consultation, design development and planning approval had gone into the project and that it had been progressing well. 

The library is currently running from the old Bendigo Advertiser building on Pall Mall.