Council to decide on Civic Hub location
Consultation on the future site of Nelson's new Community Hub, Library and Civic Space concluded on Sunday, with more than 1200 Nelsonians submitting their preferred location for the city's new Civic Hub.
The six-week Community Hub, Library and Civic Space consultation put forward three options that would see Civic House and Elma Turner Library, both buildings nearing the end of their useful lives, combined into a single facility.
The options put forward for consultation were refurbishing Civic House alongside the Savings Bank and State Advances sites or building new on Collingwood Street or Church Street.
Deputy Mayor and City Revitalisation Chair Pete Rainey says the level of engagement exceeded his expectations.
“I want to thank Nelsonians for getting in and becoming engaged. It's great to see people are passionate about this process - there's been rigorous discussion about the pros and cons of each of the sites, which is good, that gives us real confidence that we're doing something that's got people's interest.”
Elected members and Council staff have been out at the Nelson Market every weekend since consultation opened, and a public meeting, attended by more than 100 people, was also held during the consultation period.
Questions have ranged from parking and access at each site, to how upfront and long-term costs compare, and why the project has to go ahead now.
Rainey says people have approached him directly to talk about the project too, including at the supermarket.
The consultation had landed during a tough economic time for many households and some people had suggested Council should do nothing at all. But continuing to patch up ageing buildings would also have a significant impact on finances, he says.
“I do acknowledge that times are really tight, but we can’t kick the can down the road any longer. We’ve got to make a provision - if we delay the decision, it's going to cost the city even more in the long term.”
Elected members will now weigh the consultation feedback alongside further technical, financial and planning advice before deliberating. Once a preferred location is chosen, the budget for the 2027–2037 Long Term Plan will be confirmed. Council staff will collate the submissions, including any late submissions that come in this week, and present the results to Council. A decision is expected to be made by the end of the year. All submissions to the consultation will soon be made public and will be available on Shape Nelson.
For Rainey, the decision on location is just the beginning – the next phase is when the creative conversation starts.
“This is an enormously exciting project for Nelson. Once the site is confirmed, we can move from debating where it goes to shaping what happens inside it.
“A community hub should reflect the community it serves. That creates a fantastic opportunity for Nelsonians to help determine the activities, services and spaces it provides — and how it can become a place where people genuinely want to gather.
“There's no question we're on a revitalisation journey at the moment and that is a positive sign of confidence, investment and progress for Nelson.”
