Feedback on the TECT proposal to build a custom community hub on Historic Village land closes on Sunday at 5pm.

About 70 people have shared their thoughts so far on the proposal to build a two story building on the swampy undeveloped land at the eastern end of the site.

Feedback on TECT village initiative closes 5pm Sunday.

Council approved the proposal in principle in November, and will make its decision at the council meeting on February 22 – talking into consideration the feedback from the public.

The 4790m2 site Council is proposing to sell is used occasionally for events and is available for the public to access and use.

The community hub concept involves creating a shared working space for community organisations. The concept allows for flexible spaces including meeting rooms; support from wrap-around services such as business advice and marketing; and opportunities for community organisations to collaborate with each other.

It is intended to complement existing Village community facilities and activities. TECT's community hub proposal also includes on-site car parking.

There is more about the proposal on the council website.

TECT wants to build a two storey, $10 million community services hub on land currently occupied by the Envirohub building, which TECT will relocate once final approval is obtained.

The proposal is to build a two story building that will provide office space for the voluntary sector, in what Western Bay of Plenty District Councillor Garry Webber says will be a game changer for the Western Bay of Plenty.

He spoke in favour of the project at the November meeting, drawing on his own wide experience in the voluntary sector.

Funding for duplicated office space is the most haunting concern in all his experience volunteering in the social sector.

'There are a myriad of organisations doing good works in the community, and I estimate nearly 100 per cent of them are running their own back office systems, telephone answering system, office accommodation which only used on part time basis,” says Garry.

In the recent Smart Growth social sector review the most common theme is a desperate desire in the volunteer community for social sector community hub where many voluntary organisations could work together collaboratively and so be far more efficient delivering the real services for those they serve.

'Councils and the philanthropic community every year receive many requests for funding from the voluntary sector, and many of those request are to cover the cost of administration,” says Garry.

TECT chairman Bill Holland says they know there are drainage issues with the land, which he describes as a damn swamp.

There is an engineering solution, says Bill, and TECT has obtained a report that says building the proposed two story building on site it will cost, but it can be done.

'We have said at the outset we will pay what it's worth, less what it costs to make it worth what it is.

'If the council want to do the whole thing itself, it can. That will be great if you can get the land to the state where it can actually be built on, then we will buy it.”