Pakenham Library has been flooded for the third time, renewing scrutiny over whether the growing suburb’s key community hub is resilient enough for the future.
The latest incident occurred on Tuesday 24 February, prompting an emergency warning as severe weather swept across south-eastern Victoria.
The Bureau of Meteorology said “very dangerous thunderstorms” were detected and “intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is likely.”
Residents in Belgrave, Berwick, Pakenham, Gembrook, Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang were urged to move indoors immediately to stay safe.
Pakenham local Freya Lilith who was in the library from 2:30pm to 6:30pm, described the scene as chaotic.
“I noticed the flooding at around 3:30 when I heard someone say the emergency exit door was blocked off and looked up to see,” she said.
“We were told (by staff) to keep our electronic devices unplugged due to electrical hazards as the water had leaked into the electrical circuits in the floor.”
Freya highlighted there was a lack of communication, particularly as the library remained open during the danger.
Other members told the Gazette it was unclear when electrical equipment could be used again as no specific update was provided at the time.
Freya said the flooding appeared to be linked to a clogged drain outside the emergency exit, which caused water to pool inside the doorway.
“Myself and an older African woman tried to push the excess water out the emergency door while I held it open,” Freya explained.
“She used a bookstand in an effort to push the water out and a towel or jumper to soak the water in and then squeeze out in a plastic bin.
“She repeated this process until staff told her to stop due to safety concerns/electrical safety hazard.”
Freya noted an electrician or council representative attended about one to two hours later, after the affected area was taped off.
The incident follows major flooding in January 2020, when then Casey Cardinia Libraries CEO Chris Buckingham said heavy rain left an estimated 60 per cent of the floor drenched and required an extensive clean-up operation before reopening.
In March 2025, a roof leak linked to two air conditioning units forced staff to close off affected sections of the library while repairs were undertaken.
In November 2025, Infrastructure Victoria released a 30 year plan, warning Cardinia urgently needed a new or expanded library.
The warning aligned with calls from Outer Melbourne Councils (OMC), an alliance of 10 outer-ring LGAs, for a fairer funding model.
“We can’t have families living in the outer suburbs denied reasonable access to pools and libraries,” an OMC spokesperson said at the time.
“Councils don’t have the money to fund these projects alone. We need funding certainty, and a fairer funding split.”
Then Cardinia Mayor, Cr Jack Kowarzik added “with funding from all levels of government we can ensure infrastructure is future-proofed and can cater for our communities’ demands now and into the future.”
Bec Noone, Myli’s executive manager Digital Experience and Communication said they can “confirm that Pakenham Library experienced localised flooding yesterday afternoon following heavy rainfall in the Cardinia region.”
“Library staff responded immediately, cordoning off the affected area and implementing safety precautions. Access to electrical outlets was temporarily restricted as a precaution,” she said.
“Contractors attended the site yesterday evening. A wet/dry vacuum was used to remove water last night, and a commercial-grade dryer has been installed in the area to ensure it is thoroughly dried.
“The library has remained open, with services continuing in all unaffected areas of the building. The impacted section remains cordoned off and will stay restricted until we are satisfied it is completely dry and safe for public use. There has been no damage to library collections or equipment.
“The flooding was caused by water overflow from external drainage systems, and we are working with Cardinia Shire Council to address this.
“Community safety remains our priority, and we will continue to monitor the situation.”
