A New Civic Anchor

Delivered in partnership with Fraser Coast Regional Council, the brief called for more than a new library and administration building. The project needed to create an accessible community destination, provide a contemporary workplace for Council employees and support the continued revitalisation of the Hervey Bay city centre.

Forming part of the Hinkler Regional Deal, the 13,500sqm development brings together a two-level regional library, Customer Service Centre, Council chambers, community and meeting spaces, a Disaster Resilience Centre and Council administration within one connected building.

Cottee Parker, in association with Bloc Design, developed a clear planning strategy to balance public access, workplace security and operational resilience while making the building welcoming and easy to navigate.

A public promenade extends through the site, connecting Main Street with the Pialba parklands. The plaza, library, Customer Service Centre and shared lobby are positioned along this route, creating an active civic destination and strengthening pedestrian connections through the city centre.

Flexibility is embedded throughout the plan. Council chambers, meeting rooms, the staff café and Disaster Resilience Centre can support different civic, community, workplace, training and event uses across the day and evening. This allows spaces to remain active beyond their primary purpose and gives Council the adaptability to respond to changing needs.

The architecture draws from the Fraser Coast’s relationship with water and the protective presence of K’gari. The ideas of water, rock, oasis and cliff are interpreted through the building’s form, materiality and landscape, creating a protective civic edge around a green central heart.

Inside, timber, planting, natural textures and layered lighting establish a warm and approachable environment grounded in the character of the region. The Customer Service Centre offers different ways for visitors to engage with Council, while the upper levels provide an adaptable, activity-based workplace shaped through staff consultation and workplace analysis.

The Hub is designed to be more than a collection of public services. It gives people of all ages a welcoming place to learn, participate, seek support and spend time together, while adaptable spaces allow community programs, civic events, collaborative work and emergency coordination to evolve with changing needs.

The daily presence of workers, visitors and families brings new energy into the city centre, supporting surrounding businesses, encouraging further investment and strengthening the precinct as a focal point for Hervey Bay.

Its lasting impact will be found in the life it supports: children and families using the library, residents accessing information and services, community groups gathering, Council teams working more collaboratively and the region responding effectively when challenges arise. Together, the architecture, interiors, workplace and public realm show how civic investment can strengthen community identity, improve public service and support future regional growth..