Cr Watson has submitted a Notice of Motion, to be discussed at the next council meeting, that staff investigate the feasibility of upgrading the Civic Centre and constructing a new library.

He said options for the library could include a staged attached extension of the Civic Centre on the western side or the staged construction of a freestanding building on the north western side.

Cr Watson said he had recently inspected the Civic Centre and its precinct with most Ward 3 councillors.

He said the intention of his motion was to correct the 'disgraceful' condition of the Civic Centre and to put in train a process to lead to lead to the construction of a new library.

Cr Watson told the Times this week that he had earlier identified the potential to create a free standing building top the north west of the Civic Centre.

He said the option of a new building to the west had been included on the suggestion of a number of Ward 3 councillors.

"There was a general agreement that we should investigate the conversion of the existing library to a dedicated tourist information centre/cafe," he said.

Cr Watson said he was appalled by the state of the Civic Centre's kitchen and the inadequacy of the stage.

"It was quite clear to me and the other Ward 3 councillors in attendance that the Civic Centre needs an urgent upgrade and catch up on neglected maintenance," he said.

"There was general agreement the kitchen should be located at the same level as the auditorium to provide for the safe and efficient distribution of meals."

Cr Watson's Notice of Motion also seeks further information on the conversion of the existing library into a tourist information centre/cafe and the relocation of the existing kitchen facility into a newly constructed extension on the south western side of the auditorium and an upgrade of the stage area.

In a very thinly veiled attack on current mayor Paul Green and his deputy Gareth Ward, Cr Watson said he was hopeful his Notice of Motion "will refocus council away from the northern centric attitude which has been prevailing over the last 18 months".