Privatising of library ruled out

Wellington City councillors have ruled out privatising the closed city library after it was suggested it could be sold to a developer and leased.

Strengthening the central library with base isolators could cost as much as $200 million once building service replacements and fit-out costs are taken into account.

Councillors yesterday were able to read draft consultation documents outlining three options to strengthen the building to various levels of the New Building Standard.

In the documents council officers sought approval to seek interest from the “developer community”, noting the council has an obligation to be prudent and open to alternative options to funding projects.

“For example, a developer may be willing to purchase the existing library building, remediate it and lease council the space required for a central library. This would allow council to have a more flexible arrangement for the library space and free up funding for other council projects”, the document read.

But at the full council meeting mayor Andy Foster acknowledged some saw that process as a precursor to privatisation and suggested the situation had been misconstrued.

“We are not going down that track as far as I can see and I don’t think there is any appetite in council to do that.” Foster amended the wording to remove reference to the “developer community” and instead refer to how the building sector might contribute to remediation outcomes and reduction of costs.