Salisbury Council’s $43 million community hub wins final approval

CONSTRUCTION of a $43 million community hub in the heart of Salisbury will start in May after winning development approval.

An artist’s impression of the $43 million Salisbury Community Hub.

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CONSTRUCTION of a $43 million community hub in the heart of Salisbury will start in May after winning development approval.

Salisbury’s Council assessment panel last week gave the green light to the four-storey project.

The $43.8 million building will include council chambers, a library, administration centre, gallery, meeting areas and a large outdoor video screen.

It will be built on a section of John St and a carpark next to the Parabanks Shopping Centre, 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 the hub construction costs.

Mayor Gillian Aldridge said the hub would help breathe new life into the district.

“The hub will just liven up the town and make it an economic centre of real value where people will want to spend their money,” Ms Aldridge said.

An artist impression of the $43 million Salisbury Community Hub.

“I would like to see a smaller hotel or some apartments built at the library site.”

She did not know when the two plots holding the existing library and council chambers would hit the market.

Salisbury Business Association chief executive David Waylen said a multistorey apartment complex with restaurants, retail tenants and offices would be ideal for the location currently occupied by the library.

An artist impression of the $43 million Salisbury Community Hub.

“If that was developed into a six-storey, shared-use complex it would stimulate other developments across Salisbury,” Mr Waylen said.

“The next development beyond the hub is the one that will set the private benchmark.”

He said the hub should encourage growing investment in Salisbury.

“This development will be a catalyst as it will bring more people into the city to socialise and that, I think, will lead to a more vibrant business community,” he said.