Today's city transformation committee meeting is deciding how to decide where to put the city heart components; the museum, library and city administration building.

The meeting will receive a report on the issues presented, and there will be an open workshop afterwards.

The council faces conflicting choices that will have impacts later down the track.

The library's exact location on site will depend on a range of considerations, including the whether or not the council renews the existing building or builds a new one, and the council decision regarding the location of the Civic Administration Building.

The Current library building's future will be decided at the March 21 council meeting.

A decision to keep the current building will mean an alternative site will have to be found for the performance venue.

The decision on the probable location of the performance venue will be made at the June council meeting – a month after the council considers the reference design for the site as developed by the Technical Advisory Group.

While the preferred option for the rebuilt or new library is on the 91 Willow Street site, the Museum has options – the Cliff Road site and the Willow Street site. The museum decision also hinges on whether the council decides on a joint library/museum, but that particular call is presently scheduled to be made in December when business cases are finalised.

The library detailed business case will investigate the costs and benefits for a fit for purpose, future-proof library in the current building and a fit for purpose, futureproof library built new on site.

The current Civic Heart reference design co-locates the museum and new library. Within this concept, the two facilities share space and services, such as community and education spaces, café and other ancillary facilities.

Comprehensive work was carried out on the preferred location for a museum in 2005, but only two of the shortlisted 2005 site remain, Cliff road and the Civic Centre.