Wellington councillors at odds over central library plans

Tuesday, 21 July 2020

Wellington City councillors have fiercely debated a recommended $200 million strengthening of the city’s earthquake-prone central library.

The proposed $200 million upgrade of Wellington’s central library came within a whisker of being overturned on Tuesday, with city councillors narrowly rejecting a move to favour a new building instead.

The suggestion was one of three options put forward by councillors to replace Wellington City Council’s currently preferred upgrade option – a “high-level” strengthening project which would not be completed until May 2025.

Wellington City Council recommended a $200 million high-level strengthening of the library in July. (Video first published October 2020).

Tuesday’s debate came two days after councillor Fleur Fitzsimons received legal advice countering an attempt by Mayor Andy Foster to stop councillors publicly expressing their opinions about the library plans.

Foster sent councillors an email on Friday with advice he had sought from Simpson Grierson following the comments, taking particular exception to Fitzsimons questioning why council staff had recommended the most expensive option.

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Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons pushed for the cheapest and quickest upgrade option to be recommended. (File photo)

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In May, councillors agreed for staff to prioritise cheaper strengthening options – overturning a proposal for base isolators to be a necessary part of the upgrade.

City councillor Diane Calvert wants the existing library to be demolished and replaced by a new one. (File photo)

The legal advice received by Fitzsimons, which the council prevented her from tabling on Tuesday, said her comments to Stuff were in line with Local Government Act (LGA) obligations requiring councillors to be open and transparent about council decisions.

“Far from breaching these obligations, public expression of concerns about the processes following council decisions would appear to uphold the principle of openness and transparency, and present an example of the council seeking to ensure that the relationship between elected members and management is understood,” lawyer Graeme Edgeler said.

Edgeler also expressed surprise the council had sought legal advice over Fitzsimons’ comments, describing the move as “unexpected”.

The LGA requires councillors to keep an open mind, but that did not prevent them expressing an opinion, Edgeler said.

City councillor Jill Day said any attempt to demolish the existing library would result in years of litigation. (File photo)

“The requirement is to have an open mind, not an empty mind.”

Councillors expressed a range of views on which of five options was best for the library, with Diane Calvert’s push to recommend demolishing the existing building coming closest to gaining approval.

The library has been closed since it was deemed to be earthquake-prone in March last year. (File photo)

Calvert said proposing a new building instead – forecast to cost about $160m –would provoke more interest and generate more debate during the public feedback process.

She was supported by Foster, Jenny Condie, Sean Rush, Malcolm Sparrow, Simon Woolf, and Nicola Young.

But the suggestion also drew strong criticism from some councillors.

The preferred option for the upgrade would cost almost $200m and not be completed until 2025.

Jill Day said any attempt to demolish the existing library was unrealistic and “will see us go to court for years”.

“I think it’s pretty well guaranteed that we will end up in court if we propose to demolish this building.”

Fitzsimons, who pushed for the cheapest option to be recommended – the suggestion was also voted down – said demolishing the building would be “a crime against modern architecture”.

“And I just don’t believe that Wellingtonians would allow us to demolish this building.”

Woolf said it was unfortunate the council was required to identify a preferred option under local government guidelines.

“We don't need a preferred option to divide us, we need an option to bring us all together.”

He urged residents to “talk with us, don’t argue with us”.

“Don’t slate us, don’t bash us – we’re trying to do the best for you.”

Fitzsimons said the cheapest $91m option, which was scheduled to be completed by November 2023, would “send a message to Wellington that we want this library open as quickly as possible and as cheaply as possible”.

Day unsuccessfully pushed for a “mid-range” option costing up to $152m to be put forward as the recommended option. That was scheduled to be completed by September 2024.

“I just don't think $200m is a genuine or realistic option right now,” she said.

However, Day did successfully push for the library to retain council ownership, overturning plans for a public private partnership to be considered.

The proposals will go out for public feedback on July 27.