The first round of geotech testing at the proposed site of Nelson’s new library has been completed and land exchange negotiations are progressing according to the latest report on the project.
A progress report on the new library was presented to Tuesday’s full Nelson City Council meeting including an update on the current year’s budget.
As at the end of May more than $370,000 of the year’s $2.95m budget has been spent, including $93,000 on land negotiations, $81,000 on community engagement and $32,000 on flooding advice.
$2.45m is forecast to be carried over into the next financial year, which begins in July.
The report, authored by central library development project director, Alice Heather, says the new library is a major project for the community.
While retaining valued library services at its core, the transformed building will offer the community much more, for example, it may be an incubator for learning, creativity and innovation, alongside being a safe and welcoming place for all, reads the report.
Land exchange negotiations with Wakatū Incorporation, which are looking at a land swap between the current and the proposed library sites, have been steadily progressed for the proposed Halifax/Trafalgar St site since the establishment of a negotiation team.
The negotiation team is anticipating that a Predevelopment Agreement will be ready for Council consideration by the end of June 2022.
A report on the results from geotech testing is also expected later this month, after tests were completed in May.
Group manager infrastructure Alec Louverdis told the council meeting that as part of the testing, holes were bored down to a depth of 38 metres to check the soil composition and risks of the site.
Councillor Gaile Noonan questioned early indications from the geotech report.
Alec says while early indications show there is nothing of concern, he was awaiting a finalised and in-depth report on the results.
“There are some further tests that need to be undertaken to look at the composition of two layers that are present but there’s nothing in there that suggests the site cannot be built on.”
He says more detail will be known after the consultants look at the specifics.
“But what we envisage for a two-story building; there’s nothing from the tests that indicates any concerns.”
Gaile says she is “heartened” by the information in the report and asked if there had been any early indications on creep of the budget.
“At this stage no,” Alec responded.
Project director Alice Heather added that things are “tracking fine” and there were no red flags in the budget “at this stage”.
Councillor Tim Skinner questioned a new liquefaction report showing that the site of the new library may be affected by liquefaction.
Alec was quick to give assurances that liquefaction risk would be taken into account by the consultant analysing the geotech report.
“One of the things they will be looking at is whether the site is prone to liquefaction and if so, what remedial measures will need to be undertaken.”
Tim says the project was starting to give him the “heebie-jeebies” likening it to the Trafalgar Centre saga.
“I don’t think that’s a fair comparison at all,” Alec responded.
Councillor Matt Lawrey says he felt excited by the fact that talks were now encompassing something more than just a library.
Although dates for community engagement are not yet confirmed, the first phase will look at engaging on the process and idea of the project including the vision and benefits it could hold, with future phases looking to seek input on actual design plans.
