Author: Matt Roswell
Last saved by: Megan Sutherland-Berkett | Hothouse

Our Nelson Issue 252 – 29 July 2026

Three locations. One decision.
Nelsonians will have the opportunity to help shape one of the biggest community investments our city will make in a generation – the location of a new Community Hub, Library and Civic Space.  
Elma Turner Library and Civic House are reaching the end of their useful lives. Both buildings have ageing systems and increasing maintenance requirements and continuing to rely on repairs and short-term fixes is not viable over the long term.  
The three options being put forward for consultation are to redevelop Civic House and the adjoining Savings Bank and State Advances sites, or build a new Community Hub, Library and Civic Space on Collingwood Street or in Church Street. Each option has different costs, benefits and trade-offs. 
Council has not selected a preferred option, and wants to hear which location Nelsonians prefer, the reasons for their choice, and what matters most to them. 
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith says a combined library and civic hub makes good sense and aligns with the changes to modern library services. 
“A single building combining library and civic services is more efficient and will provide a vibrant and flexible hub for our city. The key question for Council on which we are seeking the public’s views is whether we upgrade and expand the existing Civic House or build new on one of two alternative sites. 
“It is also an important part of revitalising our city centre. A well-located civic facility can bring more people into central Nelson, support surrounding businesses, strengthen connections between key city destinations and help attract further private investment. 
“We are very conscious of cost-of-living pressures and the need to deliver good value for ratepayers. We’re asking Nelsonians to look carefully at the options presented, consider their different implications for the city, and tell us which location they prefer and why.” 
The estimated upfront costs are $73.3 million for the Civic House option, $74.1 million for Collingwood Street and $88.2 million for Church Street. 
The Long Term Plan 2024 – 2034 already provides $68.4 million for the project. Because each option costs more than the amount currently budgeted, each would result in a different additional rates impact. The consultation document sets out those rates impacts, along with the long-term cost and key trade-offs associated with each option. 
The consultation is focused on determining the location of the hub, which needs to be confirmed before detailed design work can progress. 
Deputy Mayor and City Revitalisation Chair Pete Rainey says people are being asked to consider more than the initial construction cost. 
“This is more than a building project, this is an intergenerational investment in learning, culture, community connection, local democracy and the life of our city centre. 
“Each option would influence the future of central Nelson in a different way. I encourage everyone to consider this consultation with ambition and enthusiasm and consider which location would make the strongest contribution to a welcoming, active and thriving city centre for generations to come.” 
Consultation will run from 27 July to 6 September 2026. People can provide feedback through Shape Nelson, in writing, or by speaking to their submission at a hearing. 
Following consultation, elected members will consider community feedback alongside technical, financial and planning advice before choosing a location and confirming the associated budget for inclusion in the Long Term Plan 2027 – 2037.
We want to hear from you.
You can share your views online, in person, in writing, and at a hearing. See page 6 for more information, or visit shape.nelson.govt.nz.

OPTION 1   Redevelop Civic House
Up front cost $73.3M
Cost breakdown:
Land purchase, design and construction $73.7M
Moving staff during building work $4.6M
Sale of Elma Turner Library site –$5.0M
Long-term cost $41.8M
Build time 41– 63 months
Approach: Refurbish and new build

Civic House, Savings Bank and State Advances 
Trafalgar and Halifax Streets
This option fixes up the current Civic House and rebuilds the Savings Bank site next door as a new three-level library and community hub, taking in the old State Advances Building as well. The library and community hub would spread over two-and-a-half floors, with council offices and the Chambers on the floors above. Together, the buildings would provide about 7,755 square metres of floor space on 2,454 square metres of land.
The Council already owns the Civic House site. It would buy the State Advances Building. It is intended that the Elma Turner Library site would be sold.
Building work would take about 41 months if staff move out fully. If staff stay on site and move around in stages, it could take 63 months. That would be more disruptive, expensive and slow down services.
Would the Council own the land?
Yes. The Council already owns the Civic House site. It would buy the State Advances Building.
How long to build
41 months if staff move out, or 63 months if staff stay and move around in stages (this costs more).
What this means for your rates
About $24 a year extra in the peak year, on top of the Long Term Plan 2024 – 2034 budget. This is for an average residential land value of $405,000. 
Pros
•	Lowest upfront cost ($73.3M) and lowest long-term cost ($41.8M) of all options
•	The Council already owns the main Civic House site
•	Keeps civic life on Trafalgar Street, the city's civic heart
•	Car parking nearby at Wakatū Square, about 100m away
•	Very close to the Nelson Bus Hub at Millers Acre, with good walking and cycling links
•	Provides the largest floor area of the three options
•	Civic House stays in public ownership, a high profile, well known location that maintains continuity of identity
Cons
•	Mixes a refurbish with a new build, which adds complexity
•	Staff will need to move out during the work; staying on site adds about two years
•	The old building limits the design: low ceilings, tight columns and a fixed layout
•	Old buildings can hide problems that add cost once work starts; lowest cost but highest cost risk
•	Harder to meet modern energy and sustainability standards than a full new build
•	The library and hub spaces cannot fully match a new build
•	The site is in a high flood and liquefaction risk zone
•	Civic House would not be freed up for housing redevelopment in the city centre
•	The library and hub would spread over two-and-a-half floors and several buildings
•	No room for extra outdoor public space
•	Nowhere obvious for staff to work from during the build
•	State Advances is a heritage building, so its front would need to be kept in the new build
•	State Advances would need to be bought to get enough space
OPTION 2   Collingwood Street
Up front cost $74.1M
Cost breakdown:
Land (ground lease, no upfront purchase)* $0
Building design and construction $84.7M
Moving staff during building work $0
Sale of Civic House and Elma Turner Library –$10.6M**
Long-term cost $50.4M
Build time 39 months
Approach: New build

Wakatū Hotel site
83–99 Collingwood Street
This option builds a brand-new Community Hub, Library and Civic Space on the Wakatū Incorporation site at 83–99 Collingwood Street. The 3,954 square metre site sits between Bridge Street, Collingwood Street and St John Street. The new building would have a floor area of about 6,868 square metres.
A new building on a large, open site gives the most design freedom of the three options. There is room to shape it to fit what the community needs. It would be built to today's standards for earthquake safety, easy access, and energy use.
The land is owned by Wakatū Incorporation and is not for sale. The Council would take a long-term ground lease. It would own the building but pay rent to use the land. The lease would be guaranteed for up to 150 years. These rent payments are why the long-term cost is higher than the other options.
Both Civic House and the Elma Turner Library site would be sold. A local developer has offered about $10M** for the two sites together. It is intended Civic House would be rebuilt to bring homes and businesses to the city centre.
Council services would keep running at Civic House and the library until the new building is ready. Building work would take about 39 months.
Would the Council own the land?
No. The Council would lease the land and own the building. The lease would last up to 150 years, longer than the life of any new building.
How long to build
39 months. Council services keep running at Civic House until the new building is ready.
What this means for your rates
About $44 a year extra in the peak year, on top of the Long Term Plan 2024 – 2034 budget. This is for an average residential land value of $405,000.
Pros
•	Brand-new building built to modern standards, with freedom to design it around community needs
•	The largest build site of the three, giving the most design freedom
•	Council services keep running as normal until the new building is ready, with no staff move
•	Civic House could be sold for much-needed city-centre housing
•	On eBus routes 1, 3 and 4, with good walking and cycling links
•	Supports the Te Ara ō Whakatū City Centre Spatial Plan
•	Brings life to an unused site in a prime central spot
•	On the edge of the ring road, so building work causes less disruption
•	Outside the flood plain
•	Close to the upgraded Bridge Street area, the Justice Precinct, NMIT, the Suter Art Gallery and Queen's Gardens
•	Shorter build time (39 months) with no disruption to Council services
Cons
•	The Council would own the building but not the land, with ongoing rent, giving the highest long-term cost ($50.4M)
•	Nelson's civic identity would move from Trafalgar Street to a new spot in the city centre
•	Closest off-street parking is Buxton carpark (200m walk), further than Wakatū carpark is from Civic House
•	Tenants on the site would need to move before building work can start
•	500m from the Millers Acre bus hub; people using eBus Route 2 may need to change buses
*The Council would pay ongoing rent for the land to Wakatū. This rent is not in the upfront cost but is in the long-term cost. That is why the long-term cost is higher than Option 1. 
**Estimate.
OPTION 3   Church Street
Up front cost $88.2M
Cost breakdown:
Land purchase, design and construction $98.8M
Moving staff during building work $0
Sale of Civic House and Elma Turner Library –$10.6M
Long-term cost $47.6M
Build time 39 months
Approach: New build

Next to the Nelson Provincial Museum
Church Street
This option builds a brand-new Community Hub, Library and Civic Space on Church Street, next to the Nelson Provincial Museum. The site is about 2,247 square metres, made up of two pieces of land across Hardy Street, Church Street and Selwyn Place. The new building would have a floor area of about 6,764 square metres.
The design closes Church Street to traffic and turns it into a public space. This space links the community hub, library and museum. This work is not in the cost summary. It is estimated at $1M to $3M to close the street and upgrade it, depending on how far the upgrade goes.
Part of the building extends over Church Street on the upper floors, with a small public courtyard in the middle. A service lane connects Hardy Street and Selwyn Place. Being right next to the museum opens the chance for the library and museum to share space.
Unlike Option 2, the Council would buy this land outright. That means a bigger upfront cost, but no ongoing rent. 
This is why the long-term cost ($47.6M) is lower than the Collingwood Street option, even though the upfront price is higher.
One trade-off is that the community hub and library would spread over three floors instead of two. That could make it less handy for visitors and harder to run. Putting the Council Chamber or a special collection on the top floor could help.
Like Option 2, Civic House and the Elma Turner Library would be sold. Building work would take about 39 months.
Would the Council own the land?
Yes. The Council would buy the land outright.
How long to build
39 months. Council services keep running at Civic House until the new building is ready.
What this means for your rates
About $71 a year extra in the peak year, on top of the Long Term Plan 2024 – 2034 budget. This is for an average residential land value of $405,000.
Pros
•	Brand-new building built to modern standards, with design freedom around community and access needs
•	The Council would own both the land and the building
•	Lower long-term cost ($47.6M) than the Collingwood Street option, though higher than Civic House
•	Civic House could be sold for much-needed city-centre housing
•	Council services keep running as normal, with no staff move
•	Outside the flood plain
•	Church Street becomes a car-free public space, creating a new civic area for Nelson
•	Right next to the Nelson Provincial Museum, so spaces and programmes could be shared
•	Supports the Te Ara ō Whakatū City Centre Spatial Plan
•	Shorter build time (39 months) with no disruption to Council services
•	Good walking and cycling links, close to eBus Route 1
Cons
•	Highest upfront cost of all options ($88.2M)
•	The Council needs to buy land from private owners and pull down existing buildings
•	The library and hub would be on three floors instead of two, less handy for visitors and harder to run
•	Tenants on the site would need to move first
•	Ground conditions are not fully known; coal tar may be in the ground on Church Street and add cost
•	Nelson's civic identity would move from Trafalgar Street to a new spot in the city centre
•	Parking is not right next to the building; closest off-street carpark is Montgomery Square (230m walk)
•	The Council would need to close Church Street to traffic and build over the road, adding $1M to $3M
•	Less visible from a main road; the entrance would face Church Street rather than a major street
Putting the cost in perspective
This is a significant investment, so it is fair to ask what it means for Council debt and for your rates. 
The Civic Hub is a small part of a much bigger picture. The Council's assets are strong, the project is a modest share of both total debt and the capital programme, and the effect on an average rates bill is small.
Assets are strong and debt is well covered
By 2034 the Council expects to owe about $504M against assets of $3,686M, so debt sits at roughly 14% of what the Council owns. This project would add between $10.0M and $25.1M to those assets.
A small share of a big programme
Across the ten years of the Long Term Plan, the Civic Hub is about 6.4% of the Council's capital programme. Most capital spend goes to core infrastructure such as transport, water and wastewater.
Why the Council borrows
Capital projects of this sort are not paid from a single year's rates. The Council borrows to build, then repays gradually over the lifetime of the building. This spreads the cost across the generations of Nelsonians who will use the facility, rather than asking today's ratepayers to cover the full bill upfront. The Civic Hub makes up $63.8M of the Council's $504M projected net debt in 2034, or about 12.7%.
What it means for your rates
The Long Term Plan 2024 – 2034 already sets aside $68.4 million for this project. For a property at the average residential land value of $405,000 (average rates $4,786 a year, incl. GST), the debt for this project is at its highest once the building is complete, giving a peak rates impact of $207 (incl. GST) a year. The rates impact then drops as the debt is paid down. Only the extra is new: $24, $44 or $71 a year depending on the location chosen. Even with the extra, the Civic Hub is about 5% of an average bill, and the Council is confident it can keep rate increases to less than 5% under all three options.
All figures are from the Long Term Plan 2024–2034 and are projections to June 2034. Rates figures are for an average residential land value of $405,000 and include GST. The $405,000 is the value of the land only, not the house on it. Land value is how rates are worked out in Nelson.
The questions we're asking you
When you have your say, we want your answers to three questions. Your answers will help the Council choose which location to take forward to the design stage.
Which of the three locations do you like best?
Each location has a different budget. So telling us your favourite also tells us which level of investment you support. Please think about all the points: cost, design, build time, where it is, and how it affects the city centre.
What are the main reasons for your choice?
Tell us what matters most to you. That might be easy access, parking, being close to other services, the look of the city, or something else.
Is there anything else we should know?
This is your chance to tell us anything we have not covered. That could be things you have noticed, worries, ideas, or local knowledge.
Ways to share your views
Submissions are open from 27 July 2026 to 6 September 2026. Pick whichever way suits you. They all count the same.
ONLINE Submit through Shape Nelson
Go to shape.nelson.govt.nz and fill in the form. You can save it and come back to it later.
IN PERSON Drop in to a session
Drop in at any Nelson library, public meetings, and at the Saturday markets. Find dates and venues at shape.nelson.govt.nz.
IN WRITING Post or email us
Post to Nelson City Council, PO Box 645, Nelson 7040, or email submissions@ncc.govt.nz. You can pick up a paper form at any Nelson library or the Customer Service Centre.
AT A HEARING Speak to your submission
If you want to talk about your submission in person, then please email engage@ncc.govt.nz. Hearing dates will be on shape.nelson.govt.nz.

'A long-term investment': New contract to grow Nelson forest cover
Nelson City Council has awarded a long-term contract to Stand Forestry Limited (formerly PF Olsen Limited) to deliver large-scale forest establishment, weed and targeted animal pest control across Council reserves.
Healthy forests soften the impact of rain, slow stormwater runoff and help water soak into the ground, reducing storm flow peaks and supporting stream flows during dry periods.
“This is a long-term investment in Nelson’s land, waterways and biodiversity,” Mayor Nick Smith said. 
“Restoring forest on vulnerable hill country will help reduce landslides and erosion, protect streams and make our catchments more resilient to both heavy rain and dry summers.”
The contract commenced on 1 July 2026 and will run for six years, with two possible two-year extensions subject to satisfactory performance. In the first year, work is expected to cover more than 200 hectares and include the planting of around 128,000 trees, alongside work helping native forest return naturally by controlling weeds and pest animals.
Tenders Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Kahu Paki Paki said he was delighted to plant a young tōtara on land included in this new contract near the Maitai Dam.
“Planting these trees in the shadow of 40-year-old established forest behind us makes it easier to imagine how this area will look once they mature. Tōtara are hardy trees that handle dry conditions and poor soils once established. Their forests provide food and shelter for native wildlife such as the kererū that eat the red fruit of the tōtara and spread the seeds. It’s a win-win for land management and biodiversity.” 
The programme delivers on Council’s Right Tree Right Place recommendations and its Long Term Plan commitment to transition suitable areas of Council-owned commercial forestry from clear-fell rotations to permanent, mixed-species forest cover. This will support biodiversity, protect catchments, provide for recreation and strengthen Nelson’s long-term resilience.
The approach will vary from site to site. Where native forest is already returning, the focus will be on controlling weeds and pest animals so regeneration can continue. Other areas will need planting and several years of follow-up care. Council expects the programme to cover about 120–250 hectares each year, depending on site conditions, the work required and available budgets.
“The best result is not always achieved by planting every hectare,” Council Forest Systems Manager James Griffiths said. “In some places, native forest is already coming back, and our job is to remove the pressures holding it back. In other areas planting will be needed. We will monitor the results and adjust the work as the forest develops.”
Locally sourced native species such as kānuka, mānuka and tōtara are preferred for planting, chosen for their resilience on steep or exposed sites and their value to native wildlife.
In some places, fast-growing exotic species, such as Veronese poplar and Italian alder, will be planted at wide spacings amongst native species to accelerate the stabilisation of landslide prone slopes.
Calling all Nelson hobbyists 
Do you have a hobby that you want to share with Nelson?
Whether you're into tabletop games, crafts, coding, sports or collecting – this is your space to share what you love!
Nelson City Council is proud to present My Time, My Life for a fourth year. This is a free and inclusive community event celebrating hobbies, interests, and passions of all kinds. 
The event is free for stallholders and attendees, but we kindly ask participating groups to help promote it. Whether it’s a Facebook post, email to your mailing list, or putting up posters, every bit helps. Thanks for being part of it!
My Time My Life:
Saturday 15 August 2026, Founders Heritage Park, 10.30am – 3.00pm.
This is a non-commercial event, focused on connection and community.
Exhibitors are not permitted to sell or promote commercial products or businesses at the event. The aim is to inspire others to explore new interests, join a group, or get involved in a hobby – not to advertise.
If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Kara on hello@elevatedevents.co.nz
Cancelled Meeting
Joint Regional Transport Committee – previously advertised to take place on 11 August 2026 at 9.30am has been cancelled due to insufficient business.
Whaddya mean? Bridge to Better jargon buster 
A large-scale construction project like Bridge to Better isn’t complete without a wide range of terms that aren’t commonly misunderstood. At Our Nelson we try to avoid using jargon but sometimes it helps to find out what terms mean. 
Isaac Construction’s Stakeholder Manager Ged Casey and Nelson Branch Manager Toby O’Sullivan sat down to chat about all things construction. We’ve got the downlow on everything from potholing to hydrovacs. 
Ged: What are some of the biggest challenges we've faced? 
Toby: Probably the biggest challenge in keeping our people safe is working underground. We've investigated thoroughly and spoken to every utility owner about their underground services but that still only allows us to know roughly about 20% of what we're likely to encounter once we go below the surface. 
That's obviously a massive challenge that we need to overcome to make sure we keep our people safe but also make sure that we keep city services like power and water working as they should be. 
The next one is the one that you do a great job of managing Ged, and that’s looking after and maintaining good positive stakeholder relationships so we're keeping people with an interest in Nelson CBD well informed about what we're doing and I think that the work you do with the Council is a vital part of the operation. 
Ged: Yep, our staff are working behind the fences but you also have to manage the situations happening outside the fence too. We have to be mindful that we know this project is disruptive, but how can we do it in the least disruptive way, and still be as productive as possible. 
Ged: I’m often asked, why can't you work on different sections at a time? For example, from Rutherford to Montgomery, stop, finish the work, then Montgomery to Trafalgar, finish that, then move on. 
Toby: As a man that loves an analogy, that would be like baking a cake one piece at a time. If you bake a cake, typically you'd bake the whole thing right, then ice it and it's done. If you had to bake every piece of the cake individually you would be in that kitchen for a lot longer. It's about managing the impact vs the duration, as a project team that's what we have to consider, what our impact is and how long the program is going to take to complete. 
Ged: Why can't you work 24 hours a day? 
Toby: If it was up to me, we would be. We have families and lives outside of construction, of course, but more importantly, we work in a city environment which has residents and it wouldn't be fair on them to have a hydrovac truck or plate compactor outside their residence. It's part of the resource consent, and as the project team, those are the rules we must deliver to. 
Ged: Ok, onto the nitty gritty... what is trenching?
Toby: Trenching is typically a linear excavation of a depth greater than half a meter where we put in our new utility infrastructure such as power cables, water mains, wastewater mains and stormwater. Along Bridge Street we have three trenches. The service trench which runs along each of the business fronts, which interferes with the footpaths, the main trench which holds the new trunk water main for the CBD and the deep sewer which is going right down the middle of Bridge Street. 
Ged: Why do you have so many road cones everywhere? 
Toby: We get to charge per cone. No, I'm just joking. Cones are an important part of our industry and as we move through the job, cones help us internally identify hazards for our team as well as hazards for pedestrians and motorists. We review the layout daily to reduce the amount of cones as much as we can. 
Ged: What is potholing? 
Toby: Potholing has nothing to do with the potholes you see on the road. Potholing for us is looking beneath the surface of the road before we dig so we can plan our works to avoid those services and make sure we can deliver the job and project as planned. 
Ged: Why can't you just dig a hole and put all the new services in there? 
Toby: When thinking about the delivery of Bridge Street, we're performing surgery on the heart of the city. When we're doing that, it's important we have existing infrastructure working while we're putting in the new infrastructure. It has to go in the same place so we can hook up all the existing connections and make sure we don't miss any connections when we're completing the install. 
Ged: What is hydrovaccing? 
Toby: Hydrovaccing is where we combine a 3,000 PSI water blaster with a huge vacuum cleaner. Your vacuum cleaner at home has a nozzle of 50mm, the vacuum cleaner we're using here to suck up the gravel and material onsite is about 150mm. We use that to waterblast the ground material to expose live infrastructure, such as live power cables and live water mains so we can navigate past them safely and install the new infrastructure.