Images of planned Salisbury Community Hub released to help shore up public support

IMAGES of a proposed $43 million community hub have been released by Salisbury Council, as it looks to shore up support for its plan to rejuvenate the town centre.

Detailed artist’s impressions of the $43 million Salisbury Community Hub.

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IMAGES of a proposed $43 million community hub have been released by Salisbury Council, as it looks to shore up support for its plan to rejuvenate the town centre.

The 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.

Mayor Gillian Aldridge said the council had received “overwhelmingly positive feedback” about the hub from the public.

“Our community now understands that this is first and foremost a community facility that will be a focus for the renewal of Salisbury City Centre,” Ms Aldridge said.

“It will be a place where housing, jobs, shopping, transport and council’s administration and service delivery all come together in delivering enhanced community services.”

Detailed artist’s impressions of the $43 million Salisbury Community Hub.

Damian Pennino, of Salisbury surveying company Pennino & Associates, was impressed by the designs.

“The concepts do look great – modern, powerful and a landmark for the area,” Mr Pennino said.

“Projects like this can be polarising but the outcome, if done right, can be amazing.”

Mr Pennino likened the plan to efforts to rejuvenate the Adelaide CBD and riverbank precinct.

“Even I at first was dead against the new Adelaide Oval, but trade on a game day or the city vibe after a concert speaks volumes.

“That’s what this sort of investment is about.”

Detailed artist’s impressions of the $43 million Salisbury Community Hub.

The council hopes the hub will encourage private developers to invest in the Salisbury area.

However, some residents have questioned if a new community hub is needed.

Rebecca Waterman, who has collected more than 400 signatures against the proposal, was concerned about the cost of the project.

“These images certainly don’t give me any reassurance that this hub is for the community,” Ms Waterman said.

“They reinforce the fear that this is just a ploy for fancy new council offices.”

The location of the planned Salisbury Community Hub near the Parabanks Shopping Centre.

The council plans to sell Len Beadell Library and its current council building on James St to developers to help cover the costs of the hub.

Councillors Beau Brug, Chad Buchanan and David Balaza have been campaigning over the past three months for the council to reconsider spending $43 million on the hub.

The council last month voted to produce more detailed designs for the building to outline all the community service it would offer.

They will be presented to the council in December, when a decision will be made to put the project out for tender.

If approved by councillors, construction of the building would start in early 2019.