$43m northern hub a step closer after strong public support
CONSTRUCTION of a $43.8 million community hub for the north is likely to start early next year after consultation showed strong public support.
North & North East
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CONSTRUCTION of a $43.8 million community hub in Salisbury town square is likely to start early next year after consultation showed strong public support.
Salisbury Council is expected to vote to push ahead with its plans at a meeting on Monday, December 18.
The councillors voted in September by a majority of 10 to four in favour of the project — with the community consultation the final stage of planning.
A survey, as part of the consultation process, found 82 per cent of respondents supported the community hub.
Construction is likely to start in early 2018 and be completed by 2019, according to a fact sheet posted on the council website.
Favourable resident responses included written support from Denise Latto, who said the project would inject new life into Salisbury.
“Salisbury is due for a facelift ... planning means taking risks,” Ms Latto said.
Those to oppose the project included Salisbury Park resident Robert Brennan, who believed the hub was a waste of ratepayers’ money.
“There are much better uses this money could be put to ... we ratepayers have to live within our means (and) this should apply to (the) council,” he said.
The results of the consultation will go into a “community engagement report” that will be given to councillors before they vote, according to the council website.
The $43.8 million four-storey building would include council chambers, a library, administration centre, gallery, meeting areas and a large outdoor TV.
It would be built on a section of John St and the Parabanks Shopping Centre carpark, overlooking the town square.
The council plans to sell Len Beadell Library and its current chambers on James St to developers — and put the proceeds towards hub construction costs.
“Some loss of car parking space, increased noise and activity can be expected in the city centre during construction,” the fact sheet reads.
“Planning is under way to minimise these potential disruptions as much as possible.”
The council has vowed to retain the same amount of public carparks in the city centre as are there now, once construction is finished.
Salisbury Business Association chief executive David Waylen said the hub would encourage more investment within the city centre.
“We have many traders that are really struggling, but anything that brings more investment is only a good thing,” Mr Waylen said.
“If you saw that the local government wasn’t prepared to invest in its own area, if you were an investor, how quickly would you put your money on the table?
“We run the risk of becoming an obscure, outdated precinct if the council doesn’t invest.”
Cr Chad Buchanan, an avowed opponent of the proposed hub, describes the forthcoming vote as “the most important decision the council has to make”.
At the September meeting, he voted against its construction.
“If the council decides to proceed with it, the only recourse available for residents is the next council election,” Cr Buchanan told the Northern Weekly.
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