Nelsonian’s put questions to Council at Civic Hub public meeting

Whether Council has already picked a preferred site, why the decision won't go to referendum, and what happens to existing businesses on the shortlisted sites were among the questions top-of-mind at a public meeting on the proposed Community Hub, Library and Civic Space.

More than 100 people attended the meeting at the Trafalgar Centre on Wednesday 12 August, where Mayor Nick Smith and Deputy Mayor and City Revitalisation Taskforce Chair Pete Rainey answered questions on the three shortlisted site options.

Consultation is open now on the three options, which are redevelopment of Civic House, taking in the Savings Bank and State Advances buildings on Trafalgar and Halifax Streets; a new build on leased land on Collingwood Street; and a new build on Church Street, next to the Nelson Provincial Museum, on land Council would buy.

Deputy Mayor Rainey said Council had put the three options out for consultation and had not chosen a preferred site. Mayor Nick said the same was true for Elected Members, and that in more than 20 meetings on the project, he had "not heard a single Councillor or staff member saying, ‘I’m only going to go with that one.’

“No matter what code you look for, this process is being done in good faith.”

Asked why the decision would not go to referendum, Mayor Nick said an election costs around $500,000, and that Council routinely makes decisions of similar or greater scale without a public vote, citing the $78 million Bridge to Better project and a $120 million sewerage project.

“That's our elected job,” he said. “That's why we’re here to listen.”

Asked what guarantee there was that the project would stay within budget, Mayor Nick pointed to Council’s recent record rather than offering an absolute guarantee: Bridge to Better, at $78 million and around two-thirds complete, was on time and on budget, and the newly opened Arts Hub was delivered on time, under budget.

The Free House, on the Collingwood Street site, was raised as an issue needing specific consideration.

Deputy Mayor Rainey said there was real value in what the Free House represented for the community, and that the Collingwood Street site’s scale meant Council would be able to give proper thought to incorporating that kind of community activity into a final design, should that option be chosen.

He encouraged people to submit outlining all that they valued about the Free House, so if that site was chosen, consideration could be given to how to incorporate or accommodate those elements.

“Due consideration will be given to what could possibly happen in terms of developing that site. Retail and hospitality are part of modern libraries, believe it or not, right around the world and in New Zealand.”

For more information about the Community Hub, Library and Civic Space consultation, including a video of the public meeting and the transcript, see Shape Nelson. Submissions on the consultation are open on Shape Nelson now, and close on 6 September.