Our Nelson Issue 155
5 October 2022

Our buses are going electric!
More frequent, more environmentally friendly, and more widespread is the promise of a new contract awarded to local operator Nelson Coachlines SBL to deliver Nelson-Tasman's bus service for the next nine years.
The contract will replace the existing bus fleet with one where 80 per cent of the buses are electric.
Chair of the Nelson Regional Transport Committee Brian McGurk says the region is leading the way in sustainability.
“By providing 17 new electric buses, we’ve gone a step further in reducing the emissions of Nelson-Tasman. This shows a real commitment to our priority of creating a sustainable transport culture and responding to the climate emergency.”
The new bus service, made possible by a $7m Waka Kotahi subsidy, will include new routes from Motueka and Wakefield, as well as an airport service.
Services on routes 1 and 2 will also become more frequent, with buses every half hour from 7am to 7pm and extending service to Richmond West and Richmond South.
Commuters between Richmond and Nelson will benefit from the new contract, with the introduction of a new $2 flat fare for adult Bee Card users for all journeys in Nelson and Richmond – an 80 cent reduction for a journey spanning three zones.
Deputy Chair of the Nelson Regional Transport Committee Judene Edgar says she hopes cheaper fares will help people cope with the cost of living crisis.
“For someone taking the bus to and from work, Monday to Friday, the flat fare could save them more than $400 a year.”

A new home for an expanded bus service
Waiting for the bus in Nelson is set to become a more comfortable experience with elected members approving the location of a new, modernised bus hub.
Millers Acre (at the corner of Trafalgar and Halifax streets) has been chosen as the site for a new bus hub with improved seating and shelter, due to be constructed in the next financial year.
Moving the bus hub from it's current Bridge Street site is a key part of enacting Council’s strategies for our city centre and transport system.
For example, the new site will free up Bridge Street so it can become an Active Transport Corridor — a people-focussed place, full of greenery, that's safe for cyclists and pedestrians. 
The new hub will be supported by a series of stops on the ring road so people's destinations are just a short walk from all stops.
Placeholder funding of $1.4m was included as part of Council's Long Term Plan 2021-31 and Council is also in discussion with Waka Kotahi regarding public transport subsidies.

What is next for Elma Turner Library?
We are all keen for Elma Turner Library to get back to normal as soon as possible – it’s such an important part of our community! 
Last week's Council meeting discussed next steps for getting the library back to full capacity. Here's what happened:
Estimated cost to fix the ceiling tiles is $1m to $2.5m depending on whether they are fixed to 67% or 100% of the New Building Standard (NBS). Before Council can make a decision on whether to complete this work we need to carry out a new Detailed Seismic Assessment.
The last detailed seismic assessment of the building was completed in 2013 and found the building was not earthquake prone, with a rating of 42% NBS. Council wants to make sure other structural work is not required.
The assessment is due at the end of October and will outline any further structural work as well as work needed for the tiles.
Staff will then prepare a report that will outline the various options – go ahead with the work on the ceiling tiles and/or structural work if needed, or look at leasing an alternative building.
Library staff remain committed to delivering services at alternative venues and thank the public for their patience. The pop-up is reached through the playground opposite Burger King and is in an area of the library where strengthening work has already been carried out.

Road Closures
Applicant: Three Bridges 
Productions Ltd
Event: Nelson Buskers Festival 2023
Location: Selwyn Place – from Trafalgar Square East to Trafalgar Square West, including the Church Steps and the intersection with Park Street. 
Date and time of scheduled Closure: Saturday 21 January to Sunday 22 January 2023, Closed daily from 
2pm – 11pm.
The roads will be closed and access will be unavailable during this time, except in emergency situations. 
Feedback for proposed closures to be 
given by: Wednesday 19 October 2022
Email: enquiries@ncc.govt.nz 
Post: Nelson City Council, PO Box 645, Nelson 7040, Attention: Gillian Dancey

Put a Spring in your Step
Nelson-Tasman’s newest festival of community walks gives you the opportunity to connect with community and the environment.  
Step Into Spring is a collection of safe, guided walks taking place in parks, reserves and in your neighbourhood throughout the month of October. 
Walks will be hosted and organised by community groups and other organisations, covering a range of themes and locations to cater to a variety of abilities. Most are free to attend. 
The festival is supported by Health Action Trust, Top of the South Neighbourhood Support, Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough, Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council.
To learn more, visit: stepoutnelsontasman.co.nz   

Commitment to working with Ngāti Koata on recreational land
Council has agreed to an important strategic statement, committing to working with Ngāti Koata on a mutually beneficial agreement for the recreational use of Ngāti Koata-owned land. Ngāti Koata owns and manages a significant network of mountain biking and other recreation trails, like the top of Fringed Hill, the Sharlands area and some parts of Codgers.

Taonga Tuku Iho: Nelson’s heritage strategy renamed and revamped 
A strategy approved by Council last week updates Whakatū Nelson’s approach to preserving our heritage and collective identity so it is inclusive of te ao Māori values to better represent our region.
Taonga Tuku Iho, Heritage Strategy 2022-2032 (the Strategy) takes the place of the 2006 Heritage Strategy and expands the idea of ‘heritage’ to include the non-physical parts of culture, like stories, language and tradition, which will also be protected.
The name Taonga Tuku Iho translates to, caring for and nurturing the treasure handed down from our ancestors.'
Mayor Rachel Reese says the Strategy plays an important role in protecting our diverse history. 
“The word ‘heritage’ typically makes people think of buildings and artefacts, but this Strategy helps Whakatū Nelson adopt a broader view of what we protect and hand down to future generations.”
Iwi representative Barney Thomas says Nelson City Council has adopted an exemplary document.
“The strategy outlines how we’ve got to reach back and remember the past to consolidate where we are now to move forward to the future and leave a legacy for our next generation.
“I want to congratulate the Council for making our community, our hapori, good ancestors. The ingredient of being a good ancestor is to have documents and agreements like this.”
Read the full strategy here: bit.ly/3SMiqTR

QEII Reserve cleanfill site update 
To assist people affected by the hundreds of slips on properties caused by the August weather event, and to ensure soil and other non-hazardous debris is dealt with correctly, Civil Defence authorised sites where soil from slips around the region can be stockpiled temporarily.
People with properties affected by the August weather event can take cleanfill material to QEII Reserve (north of Miyazu Gardens), free of charge. This site is open to both household and commercial operators for depositing cleanfill material from landslip clean-ups only, and is accessed from Atawhai Drive (SH6). Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am-5pm and 9am-4pm on weekends. 
There are still homeowners who haven’t been able to begin the clean-up process, so it’s important to keep this service open. A decision will be made early-mid October about a closing date.
What next?
The material being stockpiled in QEII Reserve will need to dry out before it can be moved. While the material remains on site, a temporary safety management plan will be followed to manage any risks the stockpile presents to the surrounding environment. 
Some of this cleanfill material may be reused to help shape and level out the area beside Miyazu Gardens and improve the reserve’s soil quality and drainage. However, the correct resource consent process and testing procedures will need to be undertaken to determine whether this is a viable option. The remaining material will be shifted off site. Depending on the time it takes for the material to dry, the timeframe for reuse/shifting of the material will be between late October and February. 

Help prepare Nelson’s hanging baskets!
We are looking for volunteers who would like to help plant this year’s hanging baskets in the city centre. 
Seven sessions will take place at the Nelmac Nursery on Atawhai Drive. 
The session times are as follows:
Monday 10 October
9.30am – 11.30am and 1.00pm – 3.00pm 
Tuesday 11 October
9.30am – 11.30am and 1.00pm – 3.00pm 
Wednesday 12 October
9.30am – 11.30am and 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Thursday 13 October
9.30am – 11.30am
We need 11 people per session with around 650 baskets to be planted in total. The plan is for these to be installed in late November/early December.
All you need to bring are your own gloves and a good dose of enthusiasm. 
If you would like to volunteer as a hanging basket planter, call Council Customer Services on 03 546 0200 to register.

Meetings
Meetings for the new triennium (2022-2025) will be advertised once confirmed after the Local Elections 2022 (8 October 2022).