Nelson City Council votes to upgrade and reopen the Trafalgar Centre

Nelson City Council is to proceed with strengthening works to reopen the Trafalgar Centre - which has been closed since December 2013.

Councillors recently have accepted a recommendation from project manager, Richard Kirby, to strengthen and upgrade the events and sport facility at a projected cost of $13 million.

The recommendation was based on the advice from the engineering firm, ARUP, which was commissioned by Council to carry out additional site-specific seismic testing on the stability of the ground and the building, supplementing the initial research conducted by Tonkin & Taylor.

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese says she is pleased that Nelson ratepayers now have some surety on the future of the Trafalgar Centre, stating "we have now found a cost-effective solution which allows us to upgrade the Trafalgar Centre, and align it with the new Rutherford Park development which we are confident will be a real draw card for our city.

“We all know what a significant contribution the Trafalgar Centre brings to our cultural and economic life in the CBD through the events hosted there, and it’s been a priority to return that to the people and businesses of Nelson."

The venue was closed in late 2013 after an engineering study suggested it could be unstable during earthquake events.

Project manager, Richard Kirby, says he is confident that Council’s decision offers the smartest and most cost-effective solution, adding "this decision gives Nelson the chance to have a fully functional, strengthened building which should last for at least the next 50 years.

“The total cost of all the work is expected to cost just under $13 million … which is significantly less than some of the earlier estimates.

“The cost of entirely demolishing and rebuilding would be $25 to $30 million, whereas this option allows Council to create a fabulous entertainment and sports complex which we believe will perform adequately during moderate earthquake events."

Council also voted to accept the recommendation to demolish the Trafalgar Centre's Northern Building (including the main entrance, kitchens, toilets and the Victory Room) and replace it with a more functional fit-for-purpose northern building.

Design work will now get underway for this aspect of the upgrade, and will be reported back to Councillors by September.

Opened in 1972, and upgraded in 2007, the Trafalgar Centre holds up to 2,460 people and is used for concerts and sporting events as well as local recreation activities.

The main arena floor can be used as two tennis courts or four basketball courts and has been used by the Nelson Giants.

The stadium is nicknamed 'The Hanger' by loyal Giants fans.

The upgrading of the multi-purpose venue will coincide with a $600,000 playground development in the adjoining Rutherford Park.

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