The New Hub Responds to Council Report

Activities at The New Hub Youth Centre will be suspended for two weeks following concerns over the earthquake rating of the Nelson City Council owned building on New Street.

The Youth and Community Facility Trust, which runs the centre met on Monday to discuss its future.

New Hub Manager, Stephen Stiles, says the meeting was held in response to recent concerns raised in a preliminary report of earthquake-strength ratings in council owned buildings. A building is deemed to be an ‘earthquake-prone building’ if its resistance to an earthquake is less than 33 per cent of the standard of an equivalent new building. The report gives The New Hub building a preliminary rating of 5.5 per cent.

In response to this information, Mr Stiles says the Trust decided to suspend the operation of its recreation service from the building for two weeks, while it looks at its options.

“We don't feel comfortable encouraging young people to use The New Hub without knowing all the relevant facts," he says. “We will therefore discuss with Council our options for continuing to offer safe and enjoyable recreation options for Nelson’s young people”

The Youth Transition Service, which is also housed in the building, will continue off-site during the two week period, and youth workers may be contacted as normal by cell phone, by email, or by leaving a message on the landline voicemail service.

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