General News
10 September, 2025
Petition begs TRC to keep library open
A PETITION containing more than 500 signatures has been presented to Tablelands Regional Council in a last-ditch effort to keep the Herberton Library operating.
In July, the council announced it was proposing to close the Herberton Library and Customer Service Centre, and the Yungaburra and Millaa Millaa libraries, with Mayor Rod Marti saying they had “seen a significant decrease in attendance over the past nine years…..and the bottom line is, we can’t continue to provide seven libraries in our region”.
He said the council would deliver outreach services to communities in lieu of the libraries.
But the news was met with a wave of negativity from the community, with many complaining they had not been consulted. Council defended its position, claiming the organisation had consulted the community in 2023 when developing its Library Strategy.
TRC has also revealed that visitation to the Herberton library had dropped 65% and borrowing by 58% over the last nine years.
At council’s recent meeting, two Herberton residents, Graham Nicholson and Stefanie Braun, took the matter directly to the council, presenting a petition with 500 names, and advising they had collected another 250 since closing the petition.
Mr Nicholson said the library was a valuable resource for the community and was also used by people living in remote communities like Watsonville.
He made a list of the library’s wide range of functions and suggested that a Friends of the Library group could also be established to promote its use in the community.
He said he was amazed at the reaction from the community when the council proposed closing the facility and was sure that every councillor had been inundated with emails about the issue.
Ms Braun said she had not realised how many services were available through the library which doubles as a customer service centre for the council.
“Once Graham compiled the list about what the library does, I realised it has so many services that I don’t have to come into Atherton for,” she said.
“I had no idea there was homework help (for students), photocopying, I didn’t know you could register your dog there and there was computer help for the elderly.
“There’s no bus to Atherton, there’s no alternative for older people who do not have the means to drive there.
“It’s also a safe mental health space – a library is not just for books, it’s a community space and people need it.
“I will certainly make more use of the library in the future, but the thing that stops me is the opening hours and the inconsistency of it.”
Ms Braun said there may be groups that could share the space and help pay for it.
“But we’re not here to argue about financial viability – it’s more about the community service and we respectfully ask the council to reconsider closing it,” she said.
