Work commenced in September 2012 on Bankstown’s new landmark state-of-the-art Library and Knowledge Centre after Watpac Construction NSW was awarded the contract.

Watpac took possession of the site on Monday 13 August 2012 and is working to deliver a world class community facility containing 5,000sqm of library, community meeting rooms and a 300-seat theatre.

The facility is set to be cooled and heated by one of the most technologically advanced systems in the world.

Fourteen bores, which have been lined with pipes, have been drilled into the ground to a depth of 120 metres. A pump forces hot and cold air through those pipes providing heating and cooling for the facility by using the earth as a medium to reject and or absorb heat. As the air passes through the geothermal energy pockets in the ground, it is naturally cooled/heated and then moved toward the surface and into the building.

This system takes advantage of the constant temperature within the ground and saves thousands of dollars in heating bills.

Some advantages of using this technology are:

• Reduction in electricity use by up to 50% (and corresponding emissions);
• Less space than that required by conventional AC systems, freeing the space for productive use;
• Durability and a highly reliable system;
• Low maintenance; and
• Can be used for space heating or cooling.

The landmark Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre project is expected to be completed in 2013.