Nelson's library and civic spaces need your help
With the Elma Turner Library and Civic House reaching the end of their useful lives, we need to decide what we do for the future of our Civic spaces
Nelson's library and civic spaces need your help
Elma Turner Library and Civic House are reaching the end of their useful lives. Critical systems are ageing, maintenance costs are climbing, and these buildings simply aren't going to last much longer in their current state. If we don't act now, Nelson risks losing the spaces our community depends on.
This is not just a problem to fix. It is a chance to build something better.
We want your help to understand which option will work best for our community into the future.
Read the Consultation Document here.
We want Nelsonians to help shape the future of our city by providing guidance on three potential options for our civic facilities and library.
Council has made a good choice in opting for a combined library and civic building. It is more efficient, aligns with modern libraries and will provide our city with a vibrant and flexible civic hub.
This project is part of Council's ambition to revitalise our central city. We are upgrading the infrastructure with the Bridge to Better project and attracting private-sector investment such as the redevelopment of Morrison Square and the Connings development in Wakatū Square. More people are being encouraged to live in central Nelson with the eight-storey Safari hotel and apartment complex in Bridge Street and six affordable housing projects underway. Council's investment in upgraded or new civic facilities is part of this revitalisation strategy.
We are very aware of cost-of-living pressures and the need to get good value for money for ratepayers. This is a long-term investment to be funded over 30 years. Projects of this scale take years to plan and Council's decision on the timing of construction will consider the economic environment including when we can secure the most competitive pricing.
The feedback we are seeking is on which option to take to the detailed design stage.
Mayor Nick Smith
Nelson is at an important point in its story.
For generations, this city has been a place of ideas, enterprise, creativity and connection: the leading city at the Top of the South Island, with an enviable lifestyle and a distinctive sense of identity. But cities do not stand still. They need confidence, care and a willingness to invest in the future.
A new library and civic hub offers an opportunity to do exactly that. It is not simply a building project. It is an intergenerational investment in learning, participation, culture, local democracy and the life of our city centre.
This consultation is about the possible sites for that investment. Each option has implications not only for the facility itself, but for how we strengthen central Nelson, support surrounding businesses, attract people into the city, and create the conditions for further private investment.
Council has a role to play alongside local businesses, property owners, community organisations and investors. Revitalisation will not happen through one decision alone, but a well-located civic project can provide real momentum and belief in what is possible.
I encourage everyone to consider the options with optimism, ambition and a shared commitment to Nelson's future. This is our opportunity to help shape a city centre that is welcoming, active and proud for generations to come.
Pete Rainey - Deputy Mayor and City Revitalisation Chair
All three sites are in the city centre. The map below shows where they sit, along with the bus routes, parking, and the Nelson Bus Hub at Millers Acre. Click on the dots below to find out more
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
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Understanding the costs
We use three numbers in this document to talk about cost. Total Upfront cost, Long-term cost or Net Present Value (NPV) and the impact on your rates. Each one answers a different question. Here is what they mean and how they fit together.
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Impact on debt levels, assets and overall spend
Learn how each Civic Hub option affects rates, debt and Council finances, how costs compare with the Long Term Plan, and why the project represents a small share of total investment.
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What this means for your rates?
See the estimated annual rates impact for each Civic Hub option, including existing Long Term Plan funding, the additional cost of each option, and how repayments reduce over time.
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At a glance
Take a look at a summary table of the three options
All submissions (including your name and contact details) will be provided to Council workers for administration and analysing feedback, and to those who are involved in decision making on the consultation. Council uses secure closed system AI to support analysis and processing of submissions.
All submissions, including submitter names (unless you request otherwise) but not contact details, could be publicly available online. It is your responsibility to ensure your submission does not include any personal information that you do not want published.
Note, Council is subject to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and a request for official information may cover your submission, including your address and other contact details.
