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Scoop
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Nelson City Council Notifies Plan Change 29 – Housing And Hazards Decisions
Press Release – Nelson City Council Council delegated the responsibility to hear and decide on submissions to an independent hearing panel which then made recommendations to Council on planning provisions. Nelson City Council has reached a significant milestone in the city's development planning, following recommended changes from an independent hearing panel. Elected members voted in favour of notifying decisions on Plan Change 29 (PC29) submissions at a full Council meeting held on Thursday, 5 June 2025, a key decision aimed at facilitating more housing development and to provide for a well-functioning urban environment. Council delegated the responsibility to hear and decide on submissions to an independent hearing panel which then made recommendations to Council on planning provisions. The panel recently provided the Council with their reports, which recommended a number of changes that reflecte their decisions on submissions. Councillors considered the hearing panel's recommendations, which reflected a balance between enabling growth in strategic locations (especially the city centre and fringe) and responding to community concerns about enabling widespread residential intensification, heritage protection, and hazard management. The panel ultimately recommended targeted city centre and fringe intensification that aligns with Council's city centre revitalisation goals. How Councillors Voted: After thorough discussion and consideration of public submissions, elected members voted as follows: For: Councillor Sanson, Councillor Skinner, Deputy Mayor O'Neill-Stevens, Mayor Nick Smith, Councillor Stallard, Councillor Rollo, Councillor Rainey, Councillor Hodgson, Councillor Brand, Councillor Anderson, Councillor Paki Paki, Against: Councillor Benge, Councillor Courtney Mayor Nick Smith welcomed the decision. 'These changes support our plans to revitalise the central city by better enabling development to a greater height and over a wider area. They also improve our management of natural hazards. The intensification proposals in Nelson's suburban areas were too ambitious and were rightly declined in response to public submissions. 'Nelson does need to provide for more choices in housing such as townhouses and apartments and make development easier, but we also need to take our community with us.' Key approved 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. Key rejected changes: 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. Next Steps: Council will publicly notify its decisions on PC29 and serve a copy of the public notice to all submitters and make its decision available for inspection. Submitters will have 30 working days from the date of service of the notice of decision to appeal the Council's decision on PC29 (on any part of the decision relevant to their submission) to the Environment Court. The Council will keep the community informed as the process continues. Full details, and the six hearing panel reports, are available on Nelson City Council's Shape Nelson website.
Scoop
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Nelson City Council Notifies Plan Change 29 – Housing And Hazards Decisions
Nelson City Council has reached a significant milestone in the city's development planning, following recommended changes from an independent hearing panel. Elected members voted in favour of notifying decisions on Plan Change 29 (PC29) submissions at a full Council meeting held on Thursday, 5 June 2025, a key decision aimed at facilitating more housing development and to provide for a well-functioning urban environment. Council delegated the responsibility to hear and decide on submissions to an independent hearing panel which then made recommendations to Council on planning provisions. The panel recently provided the Council with their reports, which recommended a number of changes that reflecte their decisions on submissions. Councillors considered the hearing panel's recommendations, which reflected a balance between enabling growth in strategic locations (especially the city centre and fringe) and responding to community concerns about enabling widespread residential intensification, heritage protection, and hazard management. The panel ultimately recommended targeted city centre and fringe intensification that aligns with Council's city centre revitalisation goals. How Councillors Voted: After thorough discussion and consideration of public submissions, elected members voted as follows: For: Councillor Sanson, Councillor Skinner, Deputy Mayor O'Neill-Stevens, Mayor Nick Smith, Councillor Stallard, Councillor Rollo, Councillor Rainey, Councillor Hodgson, Councillor Brand, Councillor Anderson, Councillor Paki Paki, Against: Councillor Benge, Councillor Courtney Mayor Nick Smith welcomed the decision. 'These changes support our plans to revitalise the central city by better enabling development to a greater height and over a wider area. They also improve our management of natural hazards. The intensification proposals in Nelson's suburban areas were too ambitious and were rightly declined in response to public submissions. 'Nelson does need to provide for more choices in housing such as townhouses and apartments and make development easier, but we also need to take our community with us.' Key approved 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. Key rejected changes: 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. Next Steps: Council will publicly notify its decisions on PC29 and serve a copy of the public notice to all submitters and make its decision available for inspection. Submitters will have 30 working days from the date of service of the notice of decision to appeal the Council's decision on PC29 (on any part of the decision relevant to their submission) to the Environment Court. The Council will keep the community informed as the process continues. Full details, and the six hearing panel reports, are available on Nelson City Council's Shape Nelson website.
Scoop
9 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Nelson City Council Adopts Annual Plan 2025/26, Confirming 6.5% Rates Increase
Nelson City Council has formally adopted its Annual Plan 2025/26, retaining the forecast average rates increase of 6.5%. The Annual Plan was adopted by Elected Members in a Council meeting on 5 June 2025, confirming it will proceed without significant changes from what was consulted on as part of Year Two of the Long Term Plan 2024-34. Nelson Mayor Nick Smith says the Annual Plan strikes a deliberate balance between financial prudence and investment in the city's long-term prosperity. 'This Annual Plan is about maintaining the services and infrastructure that underpin our lifestyle while facing up to the financial squeeze that's affecting households, businesses, and councils alike. 'Cost pressures have been considerable, with electricity costs up 20% and a new government water levy adding $290,000 a year. We've had to make difficult choices to stay on track, but we've delivered a 6.5% rates increase that is among the lowest of New Zealand's 78 councils.' In the Annual Plan, Council has also agreed to reduce the proportion of commercial rates from 22.6% to 22.3%. Project timing and budgets have been adjusted to manage inflation and revenue impacts. These include deferring the $2.6 million Civic House roof and ceiling tile upgrades to 2026/27, and postponement of the $1.3 million joint cemetery capacity purchase to 2027/28. Council has also re-phased funding to respond to storm recovery needs and upgrade the city's infrastructure to enable new development. This includes $778,549 in 2025/26 for the Haven/St Vincent culvert renewal, with additional funding carried forward from previous budgets, as well as $1.65 million for stormwater improvements on York Terrace and $773,000 for resilience works on Cleveland Terrace. In support of the local economy, Council has approved a $40,000 grant to the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce to continue business mentoring services following the closure of Business Assist. Mayor Nick says the Plan highlights a shift in Council's priorities from storm recovery and repairs, to plans that advance revitalising the city. 'Over the past two years, our focus has been on recovery from the August 2022 storm — the most severe natural disaster in Nelson in over 50 years. With much of that repair work now well advanced, our attention is turning to city revitalisation. This includes projects like Bridge to Better, the new bus hub at Millers Acre, a new playspace at Rutherford Park, the Marina Promenade, and the launch of a new Arts Development Agency. 'These projects are more than just infrastructure — they are about preparing Nelson for the next generation, attracting investment, strengthening our links with the sea, and enriching community life.' The final Annual Plan 2025/26 will be published online and made available at Council's Customer Service Centre and local libraries from 1 July 2025.
Scoop
6 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!'
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Nelson City Council revises catering contract to save Giants basketball team
Nelson_Giants_head_coach_and_general_manager_Mike_Fitchett_left_Nelson_Mayor_Nick_Smith_and_CLM_Trafalgar_Centre_manager_Mark_Mekalick Photo: Samantha Gee/RNZ Nelson Giants basketball club is no longer facing closure, after the local council amended its contract for their Trafalgar Centre venue, enabling the team to sell food and drinks at home games for another two years. Giants management earlier urged the Nelson City Council to re-consider its new contract with Community Leisure Management (CLM) that gave the company exclusive rights to food and beverage sales at the centre. At a council meeting earlier this month, head coach and general manager Mike Fitchett said the decision would "likely kill the Giants", because money raised through selling food and drinks at games accounted for about 15 percent of their revenue. More than 1200 people signed [ a petition calling on the council to rethink its position ] . Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the council should have engaged with the venue's users before negotiating the contract and promised to do better next time. Nelson City Council had a contract with CLM for several hundred thousand dollars a year to manage the Trafalgar Centre. Smith said CLM had "dropped the price significantly" in exchange for the exclusive hospitality rights. "We didn't appreciate in coming to the agreement of the exclusive food and beverage with CLM, a common arrangement in premier venues around the country, that it would have such a negative impact," he said. "We should, at the time, have engaged with our regular users and there's some lessons for us to learn from that." He said the prospect of the Giants not being part of Nelson was "untenable", the region had huge pride in the team that had a long history in the NZ Basketball League and many players had gone on to become Tall Blacks. Smith said the council had negotiated a variation to the contract with CLM until June 2027, the remainder of its term. There was a cost to ratepayers, which he would not disclose for commercial reasons. The centre cost $2.5 million to run each year and generated about $500,000 per year in income. Smith said the council had hoped to reduce the cost on ratepayers. Smith said the variation would also apply to two other groups that used the centre - Dancing for a Cause and Te Tauihu o te Waka a Maui Māori Cultural Council kapa haka. "The savings that were achieved last year were significant and we've had to return a portion of those savings back to CLM to be able to get this exemption for these three organisations," he said. Nelson Giants head coach Mike Fitchett calls the shots against Tauranga Whai. Photo: Chris Symes/ Smith said some community organisations would be disappointed that they were not included in the exclusion, so the council needed to think strategically about the venue's management from June 2027. "We need a partner like CLM that's able to promote it as a national venue and maintain it as a premier facility, but I think we've got a bit of a challenge to provide a hybrid model that will also work for our community-based organisations," he said. Fitchett said the club was overwhelmed with support, after it went public about the issue, with fans from Nelson and around the country getting in touch. "For [the council] to find a solution for us, it's a massive relief," he said. "To secure our future at the Trafalgar Centre for the next few years is huge." CLM Trafalgar Centre manager Mark Mekalick said the organisation was glad to come to an agreement that worked for everyone. The company had managed the Trafalgar Centre for the last seven-and-a-half years and put forward a contract proposal based on delivering the best value. When Giants management spoke publicly about how contract would affect the team, Mekalick said the company valued the partnership and wanted to work together to find a resolution. "Community is at our heart and the Giants are a big part of this community, so it wasn't a hard decision to make," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
