Salisbury Council’s town centre hub vision could see some community buildings sold off
A SUBURBAN council is considering selling several community buildings and injecting the funds into a large new hub in a major step towards creating a thriving business district.
SALISBURY Council is considering selling several community buildings and injecting the funds into a large new hub in a major step towards creating a thriving business district.
The new community hub would likely feature a library, council office and performance centres.
It would act as a one-stop shop for services, and could also include government and non-profit offices, health services, a cafe, training services and community meeting spaces.
The council would not provide an estimate of how much the project would cost, saying it was still in its investigation stage with detailed plans and architectural designs still to come.
Its location is also yet to be decided, however the Sexton Carpark in the city centre has been identified as one possible spot.
What do you think of the idea of a new community hub for Salisbury? Leave your comment below.
Mayor Gillian Aldridge said the council’s vision was to “bring together our community, civic and learning functions” into the centre of the town.
“The hub fits in with the revitalisation of the city centre in that we need an outstanding community hub to bring everything together,” Ms Aldridge said.
The project is part of the council’s Salisbury City Centre Renewal project.
The council will negotiate with developers in a bid to make way for new apartments and extra shops, restaurants and apartments in multistorey buildings.
It will also work with the State Government to upgrade the Salisbury Interchange, and build extra roads leading into the city centre.
“We hope to attract developers before we start the hub through the revitalisation, but we know that as soon as someone starts to develop, the whole place will come alive with developments,” Ms Aldridge said.
She said the council would create concept plans for the development in May and June.
A report to the council shows several buildings including the Len Beadell Library on John St, St Jay’s Recreation Centre on Brown Tce, and the council chambers on James St, could be sold off to help pay for the works.
Salisbury mum Sarah Coventry uses the Len Beadell Library frequently and said it was in dire need of a facelift.
She hoped the new library would focus on attracting families.
“I’m a teacher at Elizabeth Grove Primary so I think building literacy in the earlier stages of a child’s life is really important,” Mrs Coventry said.
“I hope the new library would include a good children’s area that provides reading sessions and has an attractive space.
“We’re improving our classrooms at the school so they look like living spaces with dining tables and couches, so I think that would be good to include in the library as well so families can come and feel at home and be in a familiar environment without feeling alienated.”
Five organisations have leases at St Jay’s until June 30.
Cheryl McKibbin runs Zumba Gold classes there and said her clients wanted to stay put.
“I’m not really fussed either way, but the majority of our ladies have said they want to stay, they don’t want to move and would be disappointed if they had to,” Ms McKibbin said.
“I have a contract with the council until June 30 but I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen after that so I hope they give me plenty of notice before then.”
Michelle Hofmann has been running Turning Point Dance at the centre since 2003 and said if she moved, the building would need to include specific features to cater for her 120 students.
Discussions with service providers, developers and the wider community would begin as early as July, with designs to be released for public comment as early as November.
What do you think of the idea of a new community hub for Salisbury? Leave your comment below.