Councillor Jim Maher has been a long-time proponent of building a new library.

He said he could not condone installing the new climate control system when the building’s fate remained unknown and Council was eyeing budget cuts.

“My view was, we were moving as a Council into not spending too much,” he said.   

“I don’t think [the air conditioning upgrade] is necessary. 

“It’s a lot of money being spent on something that is looking to get torn down.”

The upgrade comes as the fate of Armidale Dumaresq Memorial Library remains in limbo after a rescission motion passed last month prevented Council from applying for federal grants  on the basis that a dollar-for-dollar grant couldnot be matched.

Currently councillors are divided on whether to upgrade the current building for a short term, lease an alternate building or go ahead with the original plan to build on the current library.

Previous consultations with library staff had found the current air conditioning system to be sufficient, Cr Maher said.

Staff were prepared to “sit it out” until they moved into the planned new multi-million dollar library.

 “When we have our committee meetings we start at the library at about 9.30am on some pretty crisp mornings, I haven’t felt cold at the library,” he said.