Latest news with #NelsonCityCouncil
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
‘We Erred' – Stadium Policy That Threatened Nelson Giants Reversed
The future of Nelson's basketball club looks brighter after a change of heart over a food and drink policy. Nelson City Council and Trafalgar Centre manager CLM (Community Leisure Management) have agreed to give three community groups exemptions to a policy that otherwise gives CLM exclusive food and beverage rights at the NBS Nelson Giants' home court. Four weeks ago, the Giants warned the council that the policy would 'likely kill' the basketball club, which derives about 14% of its income from food and drink sales. The policy was adopted without consultation with key users of the Trafalgar Centre when the contract for the facility was renegotiated last year. On Tuesday, the council's Tenders Committee met confidentially to discuss the issue and Mayor Nick Smith announced on Friday morning that a solution had been found for the city's 'beloved' club. 'The prospect of the Giants not being part of Nelson was just untenable,' he said. 'We erred in not engaging with our anchor tenants, like the Giants, when the change was made. You live and learn.' The Giants, the NBS Dancing for a Cause charity fundraiser, and Te Tauihu o te Waka a Maui Māori Cultural Council kapa haka are the three users of the centre that were granted exemptions from the policy until the end of the contract on 30 June 2027. The policy had been changed to align with other 'premier' venues around the country, and to reduce costs to ratepayers who subsidise the facility by $2 million annually. 'I have no apologies for the fact that we want to minimise the cost to the ratepayer,' Smith said. 'The bit we did not understand was just the scale of the impact that would have on the finances of an organisation like the Giants.' The addition of the policy allowed the council to secure a 'significantly' cheaper contract for CLM to manage the facility, but some of those savings will now be paid back to CLM as compensation for the variation to the contract. Smith said the cost of the variation for the council would not be disclosed because it was commercially sensitive. Next year, the council will conduct a high-level strategic review of the Trafalgar Centre, which will include engagement with groups that use the facility, to ensure that the new 2027 contract will work for the community. It was possible that other groups will secure exemptions through that process, Smith added. Giants head coach and manager Mike Fitchett said securing the exemption was a 'massive relief'. Since his presentation to the council a month ago, he said he had been 'surprised' by support from the community. 'It's fair to say we're pretty overwhelmed with the support we received.' Last Saturday afternoon, Smith was presented with a petition urging the council find a solution. 'For that to generate 1200 signatures, and in a pretty quick time – it was fantastic for us. We know we're really well supported, and this was another indication of that for us,' Fitchett said. CLM Nelson community venues manager Mark Mekalick said the company was 'proud' to be a gold partner of the Giants. 'Community's at our heart and the Giants are a big part of this community, so it wasn't a hard decision to make,' he said. 'We want this venue to feel like their home.' Dancing for a Cause trustee Michelle Byczkow was 'really grateful' to the council, mayor, CLM, and councillor and contestant Campbell Rollo that the fundraiser had been granted an exemption. 'It just provides a really promising outlook for another successful event in 2027.' She said that this month's biennial event had raised $670,000 for the Nelson Tasman Hospice, surpassing her expectations. 'That support has followed through to everyone getting behind us and saying how they were feeling about the way that we and the Giants, and other community groups, were being disadvantaged.' The fundraiser had already negotiated its event hire agreement for its 2025 event and was therefore unaffected by the policy this year. But she said losing food and beverage rights, which were normally supplied by sponsors for free, for the 2027 event could have made the event not financially viable. 'That's not even somewhere that I want my mind to go.' She called the three exemptions a 'good step', but said the fundraiser would be lobbying for 'as many local community groups and charitable groups as possible' to also get exemptions in the 2027 centre contract. In the meantime, Fitchett was confident that the Giants would make the play-offs. 'We are still looking to pick up our first win of the season at the Trafalgar Centre, but we believe we can win six or seven of those last seven games to sneak in there.' Smith was cheering the club on: 'Go the Giants!'
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Elected Members To Decide On ‘A Way Forward' For Plan Change 29
Press Release – Nelson City Council The hearing panel has listened carefully to these submitters and outlined a way forward for Plan Change 29 that addresses their concerns while still paving a way for some of the key aims of the Plan Change. Nelson City Council will decide the next steps for Plan Change 29 (PC29) in a Council meeting on 5 June after receiving reports from the Independent Hearing Panel. After considering numerous public submissions and engaging in thorough deliberations since November 2024, the Panel has recommended approving some of the Plan Change provisions. Group Manager Environmental Management Mandy Bishop says many of the submissions received expressed concern about enabling increased density in residential zones and changes to rules around heritage, state highway noise and slope hazards. 'The hearing panel has listened carefully to these submitters and outlined a way forward for Plan Change 29 that addresses their concerns while still paving a way for some of the key aims of the Plan Change.' Recommended changes: Increased building heights and revised development standards within the Inner City Centre and Fringe zones, enabling greater residential and commercial development Updates to flood, fault, and liquefaction hazard overlays were also supported, along with new provisions allowing enabling Papakāinga development within the Inner City and Suburban Commercial Zones Amended provisions for the Manuka St hospital site, providing opportunities to enable the on-going operation of the hospital. The rezoning of the St Vincent and Vanguard Street industrial area from Industrial to Inner City Fringe, opening the door to more diverse and intensive land uses in this key location The panel did not support: General, Medium, and High Density Residential Zones and related rules for residential housing development Increased building heights in suburban commercial areas Most of the proposed changes to heritage, state highway noise and slope hazard overlays 'If adopted it will enable greater housing intensification and a more flexible use of land in areas close to the city centre,' says Mandy. 'The Independent Hearing Panel recommendations align with Council's goal to revitalise the city centre and would enable higher density development to start in city and fringe zones, a phased approach many submitters supported.' What is PC29? PC29 is a proposal to amend the Nelson Resource Management Plan (NRMP) to better support housing growth and urban development. Designed in response to ongoing housing pressures and in line with central government's National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD), PC29 aimed to introduce greater flexibility in residential and commercial planning provisions across the city. PC29 sought to enable more housing in existing urban areas, supporting compact and efficient development, and responding to local needs identified in the Nelson Tasman Future Development Strategy (FDS) and Te Ara ō Whakatū – City Centre Spatial Plan. The proposal included new residential zoning, increased building heights, revised rules for Papakāinga and updates to infrastructure and natural hazard overlays. Nelson City elected members have now received the Hearing Panel's reports detailing their decisions on submissions and recommended changes to current planning provisions. They will decide the next steps at a full meeting of Council on 5 June. For more information about proceedings next week, please refer to the Council report. For more information on Plan Change 29, including the full recommendations and maps, visit the Shape Nelson
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Elected Members To Decide On ‘A Way Forward' For Plan Change 29
Nelson City Council will decide the next steps for Plan Change 29 (PC29) in a Council meeting on 5 June after receiving reports from the Independent Hearing Panel. After considering numerous public submissions and engaging in thorough deliberations since November 2024, the Panel has recommended approving some of the Plan Change provisions. Group Manager Environmental Management Mandy Bishop says many of the submissions received expressed concern about enabling increased density in residential zones and changes to rules around heritage, state highway noise and slope hazards. 'The hearing panel has listened carefully to these submitters and outlined a way forward for Plan Change 29 that addresses their concerns while still paving a way for some of the key aims of the Plan Change.' Recommended changes: Increased building heights and revised development standards within the Inner City Centre and Fringe zones, enabling greater residential and commercial development Updates to flood, fault, and liquefaction hazard overlays were also supported, along with new provisions allowing enabling Papakāinga development within the Inner City and Suburban Commercial Zones Amended provisions for the Manuka St hospital site, providing opportunities to enable the on-going operation of the hospital. The rezoning of the St Vincent and Vanguard Street industrial area from Industrial to Inner City Fringe, opening the door to more diverse and intensive land uses in this key location Advertisement - scroll to continue reading The panel did not support: General, Medium, and High Density Residential Zones and related rules for residential housing development Increased building heights in suburban commercial areas Most of the proposed changes to heritage, state highway noise and slope hazard overlays 'If adopted it will enable greater housing intensification and a more flexible use of land in areas close to the city centre,' says Mandy. 'The Independent Hearing Panel recommendations align with Council's goal to revitalise the city centre and would enable higher density development to start in city and fringe zones, a phased approach many submitters supported.' What is PC29? PC29 is a proposal to amend the Nelson Resource Management Plan (NRMP) to better support housing growth and urban development. Designed in response to ongoing housing pressures and in line with central government's National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD), PC29 aimed to introduce greater flexibility in residential and commercial planning provisions across the city. PC29 sought to enable more housing in existing urban areas, supporting compact and efficient development, and responding to local needs identified in the Nelson Tasman Future Development Strategy (FDS) and Te Ara ō Whakatū – City Centre Spatial Plan. The proposal included new residential zoning, increased building heights, revised rules for Papakāinga and updates to infrastructure and natural hazard overlays. Nelson City elected members have now received the Hearing Panel's reports detailing their decisions on submissions and recommended changes to current planning provisions. They will decide the next steps at a full meeting of Council on 5 June. For more information about proceedings next week, please refer to the Council report. For more information on Plan Change 29, including the full recommendations and maps, visit the Shape Nelson
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
New Lease To Return ‘Kiwi Camping' To Nelson
Article – Max Frethey – Local Democracy Reporter Nelson's Maitai Valley Camp has a new lessee and the company hopes to bring 'traditional Kiwi camping' back to the city. A new lease has been signed for the Maitai Valley Camp and the company that's taking over wants to see a return of 'traditional Kiwi camping' in the city. Nelson City Council has been managing the camp, but Kiwi Cash Limited, trading as Penny will take over on 1 June. Penny founder Chris Wagner said the Nelson Tasman region has been on the company's radar 'for some time'. 'We're really, really looking forward to it. If there was any spot to have it in New Zealand, having one in Nelson, and especially up the Maitai [Valley], is just awesome.' Wagner said that many travellers skip Nelson – 'vis-à-vis they come off the ferry and they go to Queenstown' – and he hopes to attract more visitors to the region. The Maitai Valley was 'absolutely beautiful' with great activities, like the nearby mountain bike trails and golf course, but was generally 'underused', and Wagner hoped a refreshed campground will encourage more visitors and locals to explore the area. He thought that 'traditional Kiwi camping' has been eroded around the country, and Penny hopes to offer that experience in Nelson. 'When I was a kid, we used to go out fishing, we used to light a fire, we used to be taught how to do it safely and properly… getting taught how to make a bivvy out of trees, getting taught how to hang your own hammock, and stuff like that,' Wagner said. 'Those kinds of spaces are getting lost, and that's kind of what we're really [promoting], is the idea of actually getting people to have that experience and get out of the comfort zone.' The council has undertaken $1.8 million of campground upgrades over the last two years, such as a complete replacement of the sewer system to enable the number of visitors being lifted from 80 to 400 campers a night. Other improvements include a new barbeque and picnic area, relocated cabins, and new taps and caravan dump stations. Penny also had plans for other installations, like a new playground, and its use of automated systems and a light presence on the ground aims to ensure that campsites are offered at 'reasonable' prices based on hiring the site, rather than per person fees. 'We're going to try and provide facilities and activities for Nelsonians to actually go up there and enjoy it,' Wagner said. Long-term residents at the campground aren't expected to see any 'dramatic changes', but will get upgraded Wi-Fi, fixed toilet blocks, and a new laundry machine to 'life the site up', he added. Wagner and Mayor Nick Smith signed the five-year lease, which includes the right to a five-year renewal, last week. Smith has welcomed the lease, saying running campgrounds are not the council's core business despite their importance to local tourism. 'By investing in upgrades and partnering with experienced operators like Penny, we're delivering real benefits for the city and our visitor infrastructure,' he said. 'Both the Brook and Maitai campgrounds have previously made losses and required significant upgrades after many years of deferred maintenance. Last year, we successfully leased the Brook campground to the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Trust and since then camper reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. We're aiming for the same here.' The campground's rent is set at $40,000 plus GST for the first year, with subsequent years being either the base fee or 9.75% of the camp's gross income, whichever was higher. Kevrol Limited held the lease for the campground for 17 years. When the lease expired in 2022, they did not want to enter into a new lease as the company was moving away from the area. The council has run the campground since.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
New Lease To Return ‘Kiwi Camping' To Nelson
Wednesday, 28 May 2025, 8:12 pm Article: Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter A new lease has been signed for the Maitai Valley Camp and the company that's taking over wants to see a return of 'traditional Kiwi camping' in the city. Nelson City Council has been managing the camp, but Kiwi Cash Limited, trading as Penny will take over on 1 June. Penny founder Chris Wagner said the Nelson Tasman region has been on the company's radar 'for some time'. 'We're really, really looking forward to it. If there was any spot to have it in New Zealand, having one in Nelson, and especially up the Maitai [Valley], is just awesome.' Wagner said that many travellers skip Nelson – 'vis-à-vis they come off the ferry and they go to Queenstown' – and he hopes to attract more visitors to the region. The Maitai Valley was 'absolutely beautiful' with great activities, like the nearby mountain bike trails and golf course, but was generally 'underused', and Wagner hoped a refreshed campground will encourage more visitors and locals to explore the area. He thought that 'traditional Kiwi camping' has been eroded around the country, and Penny hopes to offer that experience in Nelson. 'When I was a kid, we used to go out fishing, we used to light a fire, we used to be taught how to do it safely and properly… getting taught how to make a bivvy out of trees, getting taught how to hang your own hammock, and stuff like that,' Wagner said. 'Those kinds of spaces are getting lost, and that's kind of what we're really [promoting], is the idea of actually getting people to have that experience and get out of the comfort zone.' The council has undertaken $1.8 million of campground upgrades over the last two years, such as a complete replacement of the sewer system to enable the number of visitors being lifted from 80 to 400 campers a night. Other improvements include a new barbeque and picnic area, relocated cabins, and new taps and caravan dump stations. Penny also had plans for other installations, like a new playground, and its use of automated systems and a light presence on the ground aims to ensure that campsites are offered at 'reasonable' prices based on hiring the site, rather than per person fees. 'We're going to try and provide facilities and activities for Nelsonians to actually go up there and enjoy it,' Wagner said. Long-term residents at the campground aren't expected to see any 'dramatic changes', but will get upgraded Wi-Fi, fixed toilet blocks, and a new laundry machine to 'life the site up', he added. Wagner and Mayor Nick Smith signed the five-year lease, which includes the right to a five-year renewal, last week. Smith has welcomed the lease, saying running campgrounds are not the council's core business despite their importance to local tourism. 'By investing in upgrades and partnering with experienced operators like Penny, we're delivering real benefits for the city and our visitor infrastructure,' he said. 'Both the Brook and Maitai campgrounds have previously made losses and required significant upgrades after many years of deferred maintenance. Last year, we successfully leased the Brook campground to the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Trust and since then camper reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. We're aiming for the same here.' The campground's rent is set at $40,000 plus GST for the first year, with subsequent years being either the base fee or 9.75% of the camp's gross income, whichever was higher. Kevrol Limited held the lease for the campground for 17 years. When the lease expired in 2022, they did not want to enter into a new lease as the company was moving away from the area. The council has run the campground since. Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air © Scoop Media
