Nelson mayor 'aghast' at $88m civic hub plan

Nelson City Council has decided to forge ahead with plans for an $88 million combined community hub, library and civic space on a new site in the central city.

Earlier this year, the council asked the community for feedback on which of three options it preferred, to combine services in one site to replace ageing infrastructure.

They included redeveloping Civic House and the adjoining Savings Bank and State Advances sites at an estimated $73.3m; building a new facility on leasehold land in Collingwood Street, tipped to cost $74.1m; or purchasing three sites in Church Street and developing a new build for $88.2m.

The council said all three options had trade-offs and would affect rates because it had only budgeted $68.4m for the project. More than 1300 people gave feedback, with 62.5 percent backing the redevelopment of Civic House, which is home to the current council offices.

At a meeting on Thursday, the Collingwood Street option was ruled out and elected members chose to progress the Church Street option, after years of investigation, planning and public consultation.

Mayor Nick Smith said he was "aghast" at the vote, which he believed overrode the public sentiment.

"It is out of touch to be choosing the most expensive $88 million option in a cost-of-living crisis. It makes a mockery of public consultation."

Smith said it was the largest project the council had embarked on in decades and it attracted a large number of submissions, with the Civic House redevelopment the clear favourite. It was the obvious choice because it was well located, structurally sound, had good access to parking and public transport and delivered the best value for money, he said.

Deputy Mayor Pete Rainey rejected Smith's claims that the decision was out of touch and undermined public consultation. He said councillors had weighed the risks and prioritised long-term value and city revitalisation over the option that attracted the most public support.

"Consultation is one part of the decision-making process. Councillors must listen to the public, consider expert advice and financial information, assess long-term risks, and exercise independent judgement."

Rainey said the public support for Civic House did not mean it was the lowest-risk or best-value option. While the redevelopment was estimated to cost $73.3m, he said there were significant uncertainties in converting a 55-year-old office block into a modern library and civic hub.

"In 50 years, Civic House would be approaching 110 years old. Would Nelson then spend millions more extending its life towards 150 years?

"How many times must Nelson pour money into ageing buildings instead of investing in infrastructure designed for the future?"

The final design and construction price of the Church Street building has not yet been confirmed. Nelson City Council chief executive Nigel Philpott said the decision enabled staff to move forward with the next stage of the project.

"The location was a decision for elected members to make, and now that we have that direction, our focus turns to the work ahead. We'll progress due diligence on the Church Street site, investigate the potential design options, and test the costs against the provisional budget.

"I am determined that the option selected by elected members will deliver value for money, and that the procurement process will deliver an option for a similar level of cost as estimated to refurbish Civic House."

No decision has been made on the future of Civic House or Elma Turner Library. Any proposed sale would require a separate decision by the council.