Our Nelson Issue 166, 29 March 2023

Take part in the 2023–24 Annual Plan
“This year’s plan and budget process has been particularly tough with tens of millions in extra costs for repairs from the August 2022 weather event, the highest inflation rate in 30 years and soaring interest costs. This proposed Annual Plan prioritises fixing the storm damage, improving core infrastructure and increasing Nelson’s resilience to climate change. It seeks to carefully balance the need to constrain increases in rates with maintaining Council services so as to ensure Nelson remains a great little city to live, work and do business.” 
Our Approach to Rates
This is not an austerity budget, Council is still:
•	Investing in our infrastructure
•	Building back better as we recover from the weather event
•	Maintaining our core services
•	Planning future projects for an improved economy
Keeping the rate increase in line with inflation at 7.2%
•	Spreading recovery funding and the depreciation from 2022 revaluation over several years
•	Trimming $4.1m from operational budgets
•	Funding to community groups and facilities has been held at 2022/23 levels 
•	This may mean Council is less proactive in its service response – routine issues may take longer to be repaired, services may be less available or slower than you expect
Tell us what you think
Do you support Council’s steps to minimise the rise in rates required to 7.2%?

I’ve never made a submission before. Where do I start?
We welcome all submissions. If you are not sure how to make a submission why not get in touch with us. You could try our customer service centre, or speak to an elected member at the Nelson Market on Saturday mornings or by email found here: 
nelson.govt.nz/council/mayor-councillors.
You will have the opportunity to answer all the questions on these panels, plus there will be free space for you to add anything else you want to tell us about.
We would really love to hear from as many people in our community as possible.
Recovery from the August 2022 severe weather event
We want to make Nelson’s infrastructure more resilient to future weather events. A huge amount of recovery work has already been undertaken but much more remains to be done. We propose spreading the recovery work over six years, so it can be completed to a high standard, and paying for it over 10 years.

Cost
The total estimated cost of recovery is $57.1 million, with an estimated 40% likely to be covered by insurance and central government contributions.
The estimated cost of recovery work in 2023/24 is 
$11.5 million. This includes:
Water Supply – Te Ratonga Wai
$525,000 improve resilience at Water Treatment Plant
Wastewater – Te Para Wai
$240,000 wastewater improvements
Stormwater – Te Wai Āwhā
$930,000 stormwater upgrade Days Track Catchment 3 
$1.9m stormwater upgrades (including Devenish Place and Cleveland Terrace)
Flood Protection – Te Ārai Waipuke
$2.8m flood protection
How are we funding the recovery?
We propose to fund recovery over a 10-year period. This is a balance between paying off the debt quickly, lessening the impact on debt/rates, and making sure work is of a high standard.
Funding everything in one year risks...
•	A huge addition to our debt or rise in rates
•	Work being hurried and not an improvement 
on before
Spreading payments over more than 
10 years risks...
•	A higher chance that another major weather event occurs while we pay off debts from this one
Tell us what you think
Do you agree we should fund the August 2022 severe weather event recovery work over 10 years? 

Reduction in spending on new library
The Elma Turner Library has served the community well but is nearing the end of its optimal life. Council was planning to build a new library on the corner of Halifax Street and Trafalgar Street with an overall budget of $46.3 million. We are now proposing to look at options for a new community hub, including a library, which would overcome cost and location concerns with the previous plan, on a different site close to the city centre.
Cost
Instead of the $17.8m set aside in 2023/24 for the new library project, a budget of $200,000 is proposed for community engagement, site investigation, and developing strategies for external funding.
Tell us what you think
Do you agree with us reducing 2023/24 funding from $17.8 million to $200,000 and a new focus to investigate opportunities for a community hub, including a library, in a new city centre location?
Infrastructure upgrade to unlock city centre living
Three waters infrastructure upgrades in the city centre and the Bridge Street Linear Active Transport Corridor will be accelerated using $36m of funding from central government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund.
This could support development of approximately 1000 new homes in Nelson’s city centre.
“Nelson has a lack of appropriate, affordable housing. 
This significantly impacts community wellbeing and our economy because local businesses struggle to attract staff as they can’t find somewhere to live. This funding is supported by $32 million already allocated in the Long Term Plan, but to receive it we need to bring forward this work or risk paying for the entire project ourselves,” says Nelson Mayor Nick Smith.
Cost
Council is proposing to bring forward $3 million to 2023/24 for initial design and engagement. $1.9m of this cost will be funded from central government in future years.
The Bridge Street Linear Active Transport Corridor
Safe shared space for pedestrians, cyclists 
and drivers 
Limited short-term parking for those who require it
High quality green public spaces
*Opportunities to offset any loss of parking elsewhere in the city will be explored as part of this project.
Tell us what you think
Do you agree we should be accelerating infrastructure upgrades in the city centre to enable central city living and receive central government funding? 

Mahitahi-Bayview Development
The Council has made a decision to rezone land in the Maitai Valley for urban purposes through Plan Change 28. That decision is now under appeal, but we still need to carry out early design work for utilities and transport connections to service the proposed development. 
Cost
Exact cost splits are to be determined, but the developer will pay a share. Council is proposing budget of $606,000 in 2023/24 to initiate this work with the balance of any funding being considered in the Long Term Plan 2024–2034 consultation process. The funding will only be spent if the appeal is not successful at the Environment Court.
The expenditure will enable additional housing to proceed more quickly and help alleviate Nelson’s shortage. It will also help ratepayers by enabling the correct costs of the development to be charged to 
the developer.
Tell us what you think
Do you agree we should allocate funding of $606,000 in 2023/24 to undertake pre-planning work on the utility and transport connections to the proposed Maitahi Bayview Development subdivision (Maitai Valley), to inform consultation on the Long Term Plan 2024   –   34?
Make a submission by:
Visiting nelson.govt.nz
Emailing submissions@ncc.govt.nz
Writing to Nelson City Council, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 7010
Calling 03 546 0200

Government support under discussion
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visited the region on 22 March to see the progress of the flood recovery work that’s been ongoing since the August 2022 weather event. 
During the visit, the Prime Minister met with our Navigator team so he could learn more about their work as a one stop shop for residents that need help through the recovery process.
Prime Minister Hipkins spoke about the need for realistic expectations, as there aren’t any quick fixes to the challenges faced by those affected by the flood. He expressed his commitment to working with the insurance sector and EQC to expedite the process, while acknowledging that some factors, like relevant assessments and geotechnical work, take time. He also recognised the progress made so far and the positive community spirit in Nelson.
When asked about the rebuild cost and government support, the Prime Minister said there are ongoing discussions about how government can best support the community through the rebuild.

Nelson Tasman’s new buses are delayed – but it’s a service worth waiting for
Nelson Tasman’s brand-new bus service will now start on August 1 due to a delay in the arrival of new electric buses for the service.
Group Manager Infrastructure Alec Louverdis says the buses are already on their way from overseas, but due to delays related to access to international ports will take eight weeks to make the journey by sea.  
“It is disappointing that our community will have to wait a bit longer, but when it does start this service will be a gamechanger,” says Louverdis. 
Examples of the benefits bus users will experience include: 
From August 1, prices will reduce to a $2 flat fare for journeys within Nelson and Richmond area (cheaper if you have a concession) 
Urban buses every half hour, 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week 
Simplified routes – less changing bus 
New routes to Motueka and Wakefield from Nelson and Richmond that cover Mapua and Brightwater as well 
A regular airport bus service that connects with The Brook, city centre and Tāhunanui
Electric buses – helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
Digital displays and a better app giving people real-time information about arrivals and departures 
“When the new $2 flat fare is introduced a trip from Richmond to Nelson and back for work now costs less than the petrol you would spend as a single occupant in a car," says Louverdis. "It’s even comparable if there are two (or more) people in the car. 
“All urban routes (that’s routes 1-4) that operate within Nelson and Richmond will go every half an hour from 7am to 7pm, including weekends. That feeling of getting to the bus stop and realising there’s no bus for an hour or more will be a thing of the past.” 
New routes in Tasman includes buses that will go as far afield as Motueka and Wakefield, offering a genuine alternative to commuters who make the long drive on a regular basis. 
Buses out to Motueka will make four round trips a day, Monday – Friday, between 7am and 7pm. The Wakefield route will run six times a day. The buses become an express service once they reach the Richmond interchange. From here they will only stop at Nelson Hospital and then Nelson City Centre – so they are a pretty quick way to for people to get to work in our major centres.
Urban routes have been simplified. This means Council has essentially joined routes together, so people change buses less often. For instance, the old routes 3 (Atawhai) and 5 (Hospital) are combined into Route 3 in the new system. A passenger from Atawhai heading to the hospital will no longer have the hassle of changing bus.  
“We are also looking forward to getting real-time information boards installed at key interchange stops in Stoke, Tāhunanui, the airport, the hospital, Richmond, Motueka and Wakefield. These will alert people to things like delays due to a road accident. They come equipped with a button that can relay information in audio, so they are accessible for low vision groups as well. Better real-time tracking of buses will provide more accurate information about arrivals straight to people’s phones.” 
Another exciting addition to the service is a new regular service to Nelson Airport, meaning even if you are leaving Nelson you can choose to leave the car at home. This service will travel through the Brook, Nelson city centre and Tāhunanui and cost $2 per way.
Tasman District Council and Nelson City Council will launch a public information campaign from the beginning of May to help the public understand the benefits of the new bus service.
Nelson gains port of entry status for recreational craft  
International recreational boaties can now arrive in Nelson after the marina gained port of entry status with its registration as a Transitional Facility with the Ministry of Primary Industries.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith says this is a positive development for local tourism and our marine servicing industries. 
“The benefits for Nelson of having port of entry status for international recreational craft is the tourism generated from such visitors, the opportunity for the provisioning and servicing of these boats and the strengthening of our connections and credentials as a maritime-focused city.” 
“I know that the standards ports and marinas need to meet to gain this status are particularly high, for good reason, so congratulations to our NCC Marina team who worked to achieve this for Nelson.” 
This summer, Nelson Marina processed 12 clearances for craft entering New Zealand under special approval. 
“We have previously been able to get the odd vessel in through special approvals but this new status means we have standard processes for the immigration, customs and biosecurity clearances," says Mayor Nick. "I am confident we will get many more international vessels coming here when word gets out of this new status."
The new status aligns with Mayor Nick’s goal of doing more with, and making more of, Nelson’s connections with the sea. 
“This is just one step in my broader ambitions to expand the services and facilities at our Nelson Marina. We are also making progress on the upgrade of the Travel Lift from 44 tonnes to 110 tonnes with a proposed investment of $1.6m approved to go out in the draft Annual Plan.” 
Nelson Marina Manager Nigel Skeggs says achieving the status was a considerable undertaking. 
“To be a designated port of entry you must show that you can meet stringent biosecurity standards and be registered as a Transitional Facility with the Ministry of Primary Industries.  
“Our team has worked hard with our border agencies and Port Nelson to meet those standards and we are overjoyed that Nelson is now able to receive international visitors. It’s a bit of a coup for the local economy as people who arrive by sea will come and spend money in our city’s cafes, restaurants and retail businesses.” 
To become an approved Transitional Facility, the Nelson Marina team, which is part of Nelson City Council after management of the marina was brought ‘in-house’ in 2021, combined with Port Nelson to upgrade the Travel Lift that lifts vessels out of the water for inspection and cleaning. Screens and gates were added to ensure that no marine pests can escape into the environment. 
The facility has been inspected and certified and will be audited every six months by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). Marina staff have also been trained as Transitional Facility Operators and are now able to clean vessels that require it before being granted entry. 
Overseas vessels arriving in Nelson go directly to the customs jetty in Nelson Marina where they will present to customs and immigration. Once cleared they will be inspected by MPI. If there is any biofouling growth that is of concern, MPI will inform Nelson Marina and the vessel will come directly to the Travel Lift. Marina staff will clean the vessel before it is inspected again by MPI and released to cruise NZ. 
Costs for this are paid for by the vessel owner. 
Nelson is one of eight ports and marinas where recreational vessels, yachts and small craft can arrive in New Zealand.
•	Opua 
•	Whangārei 
•	Auckland (Westhaven marina) 
•	Auckland Harbour Viaduct marina and Silo Park marina 
•	Tauranga (Vessel Works precinct) 
•	Picton 
•	Nelson 
•	Lyttelton
Mayor’s Message
Setting the rates this year has been particularly tough given the swirl of financial winds blowing against us. Those headwinds include tens of millions in extra costs from the storm last August, large cost increases from the worst inflation in 30 years and soaring interest rates.
We know that many households and businesses are also under huge financial pressure, facing those same hikes in interest rates and high inflation. With that front of mind, our Annual Plan Taskforce, capably led by Cr Mel Courtney, got the proposed rate increase for 2023/24 down to an average of 7.2%.
The Annual Plan Consultation Document has been shaped by every one of our councillors. It is a credit to the respectful way our Council team has engaged and compromised that it was unanimously supported at last Thursday’s meeting.
Rates make up about 4% of household costs and average $70 per week. By comparison, government taxes make up 40% and cost the average household $700 per week. We are too small to counter the broader impacts of sharply rising costs. The best Council can do is not make the inflation problem worse.
Rates in Nelson over the past decade have increased at more than double the inflation rate. From 2010-20, rates rose 37.7% compared with inflation of 15.2%. Our proposed 7.2% matches the rate of inflation.
 To keep the proposed increase in line with inflation, we have removed $17.6 million of capital spending for the new riverside library from the previous Council’s plans. We have also squeezed another $4 million in operational savings and residents may notice small decreases in services.
We propose spreading the August storm repair costs out over 10 years. A shorter period would result in higher rate increases.
Our 7.2% proposal for Nelson matches the rate of inflation. Wellington is proposing 12.3% and Timaru 13.3% while our neighbours in Tasman are proposing 9.1% and Marlborough 7.8%. Auckland is proposing 5.6%, albeit they are cutting community services and selling airport shares to achieve this smaller increase.
 We welcome feedback on the rate increase and any other proposals in our Consultation Document, such as the planned investigation of a site for a new library and spending earmarked for infrastructure. You can provide your submissions and comments on our proposals online or in writing. We would also welcome you dropping by our caravan at the Saturday Market to pass on your views. We want to find the right balance between keeping rate increases to a minimum and maintaining Council services.

What’s the go with recycling in Nelson? 
You may have seen a recent Fair Go piece about public place recycling in Nelson Tasman. Public place recycling should NOT be confused with household recycling – kerbside recycling collected in yellow bins and blue crates is very successful in Nelson Tasman with low contamination rates. Residents do a fantastic job at making sure that the maximum gets recycled by sorting clean numbers 1, 2 & 5 plastics, flattened cardboard, tins and cans in their yellow bins, and clean glass (lids removed) in their blue crates. 
The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Richmond services Nelson City and Tasman District Councils and is one of the largest of its kind in the country. The MRF processes and recovers an average of 4.52kg of plastic per person per year in the Nelson region alone – that’s the equivalent of 4.85 million plastic soft drink bottles per year. Recovered plastics are sorted and baled at the MRF, before being transported to New Zealand recyclers such as Flight Plastics and used to make new plastic containers. Glass is transported to Visy Glass in Auckland to be made into new glass bottles (glass can be recycled infinitely). 
What is public place recycling? 
Public place recycling are any recycling bins that are in the street or in any place for the public to use when they are out and about. In Nelson we only have a handful of these bins available publicly, they were introduced as a result of funding as part of the Rugby World Cup 2011.
Why don’t we have more public 
place recycling? 
The short answer is contamination. Unfortunately, our experience is that the contamination rates for public place recycling bins is much higher than residential recycling, it can be as high as 80% and a contaminated bin ends up needing to be sent to landfill rather than recycled. You may have seen Monday night’s episode of Fair Go that shows Nelson is not alone in high contamination rates for public place recycling. Fortunately this is only a tiny percentage of what we recycle in Nelson
What is Council doing instead? 
Public place recycling is a small amount of the total recycling produced by Nelson so we are focusing on what does work – household kerbside recycling – and looking at ways to make it easier to recycle when you are out and about. The example shown in Fair Go of a Council event shows the education we are doing to help people recycle right. We are also supporting and community-led projects like repair cafes and helping manufacturers to look at the waste they produce by providing grants as part of our Rethink Waste programme – you will have seen Chia Sisters featured as part of the Fair Go piece who received a Council grant to purchase a kegerator to enable them to provide a juice refill service. 
What can you do if you are out and about and want to recycle? 
Think firstly about what you are buying and how it’s packaged – remember you can’t recycle that disposable coffee cup so bring your own reusable cups. You can also take your recycling home with you and pop it in your bin.

Building stormwater resilience on St Vincent Street 
A seven-month stormwater upgrade project starts on St Vincent Street on April 11 2023. 
The project involves installing 1.8m diameter stormwater pipes in St Vincent Street between its intersection with Halifax Street and Hastings Street.
Group Manager Infrastructure Alec Louverdis says the project is similar in scope to the stormwater upgrade just completed on Rutherford Street. 
“When the upgrade is completed this area will benefit from substantially better resilience to heavy rain events, which will provide extra security to local businesses and residents and enable future housing development. There will be disruption to traffic and access during the project and we are working closely with everyone involved to reduce the impact.” 
Traffic management will change throughout the project. From April 11 to early May, the southbound lane between Halifax and Hastings Street will close. The northbound lane will remain open. 
From early May to mid-November a full road closure will be in place at the intersection of St Vincent Street and Hastings Street to allow the main construction works to be completed. 
During this period, access to and from the Warehouse and Countdown retail stores will be restricted to turning right into and left out of their St Vincent Street entry.  
Access to and from Spotlight will be via the original Hastings Street entry, which is accessed via the Washington Road end of Hastings Street.

Early feedback sought for Waste Plan 
In preparation for a review of our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (the Waste Plan), Nelson City Council, along 
with Tasman District Council, are getting the conversation started by finding out what matters most to our community when it comes to waste.
The shared Waste Plan sets out how we promote effective and efficient waste management and minimisation in our region, and how to improve, promote and protect public health. Alongside this are the growing requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions created by ‘make, take, waste’ thinking. 
There is a statutory requirement for councils to review the Waste Plan every six years or earlier, and this includes preparing a waste assessment, which is now under way.
To start the review process off, both councils are seeking early feedback from the public to get a steer on what matters to them most when it comes to waste. To do this, we have set up a Shape Nelson page asking people to tell us what is working – and what isn’t – and asking for their ideas and suggestions. 
Group Manager Infrastructure Alec Louverdis says the early feedback will give us a greater understanding of what people value the most when it comes to waste.
“We know waste and how to avoid creating it is something many people have strong feelings about, and how we deal with waste is also especially important when it comes to taking action on climate change.
“Whether people want to let us know about a food and garden organics bin collection they saw in another city, that they would like more e-waste options, or just that their current waste systems are serving them well, we want as many perspectives as possible.” 
This initial feedback will help us to shape the more formal public consultation process, which will go out for submissions later this year. A new Waste Plan is expected to be adopted by the end of the year.
Digging in to composting  
Want to learn how to compost, set up a worm farm or use Bokashi? Don’t know the correct ratio of brown to green waste or what can’t go in your compost? We can help with that.  
Join the many Nelsonians who have already taken part in a one-hour free workshop, hosted by Tim’s Garden and sponsored by Nelson City Council’s Rethink Waste programme. 
Tim’s Garden director Tim Morozgalski said the workshops cover how best to produce compost, how easy it is to compost at home, and what to do with it in the garden. 
“What really seems to strike a chord with attendees is when we explain that any amount of home composting will help improve their environmental impact and build healthy soil in their gardens. Landfills are a last resort for green and kitchen waste.”  
The next two workshops are scheduled for 20 April, and 20 May. 
Once attendees are equipped with their new composting know-how, as well as taking away a goody bag from the workshop, they can take advantage of the $20 Council subsidy on compost bins, worm farms and bokashi buckets available at local retailers. 
To book a space in the upcoming workshop, visit timsgarden.co.nz/events or visit the team instore at 26 Gloucester Street.   

The final days of the 2023 Nelson Fringe Festival 
It’s the last few days of Nelson Fringe Festival and there are still loads of shows to see. The Festival is a real mix of theatre, comedy, improv and music.
Most stand-up comedy is about storytelling, and there are three on over the weekend who are experts at telling a tale from their own point of view. New Yorker Tristan Miller fires off the one-liners so fast that you need to hold your breath not to miss anything. He uses his show, Manic Impressive, to explore issues of mental health. If you like your comedy Robin Williams-style, then this is a don’t miss.
If you like a gentler, more well-aged style of comedy, try Mary Glaisyer’s show, Just Mary. After winning over audiences at the last two Fringe Festivals, Mary is back with new tales, wry observations, and quick-witted punchlines.
Another (ex)local making inroads into the comedy scene is Aimee Borlase in BiMillennial Woman. Aimee was a ‘90s gifted kid, with all the life expectations – marriage, kids, a home and career. But Aimee decided on a different path and had to figure out her own marks of success. Combining musical musings and comedic storytelling, a ukulele, and some rather unconventional Girl Scout badges, Aimée recounts 30 years of life lessons and hurdles. Along the way she learns to embrace new labels like “Queer” and “Neurodivergent” and discovers she has ticked off the conventional boxes, just in her own unconventional way. You might recognise Aimée from previous Nelson Fringe Festivals, Backroom Comedy or as the host of A Very Gay Cabaret.
And the perfect way to round off the 2023 Nelson Fringe Festival would be to join Router Sidewalker for their self-named improvised walking tour. As an extra-dimensional timetraveller, Router will present a new perspective on familiar Nelson streets and sights. The show is 100% improvised and different every time, taking a new route.
Nelson Fringe Festival, until Saturday 1 April. Information and tickets at nelsonfringe.co.nz
Forestry Harvesting - Marsden Valley Reserve
Nelson City Council’s contractor PF Olsen is due to begin harvesting Nelson City Council’s commercial pine forest in the Upper Marsden Valley Reserve, with preparation work starting by the end of March and harvesting starting in May 2023, subject to resource consents. 
The harvest will take approximately 11 months to complete, and access for recreational users will vary during this time. 
Glider Road will be closed during the harvest, however, Council staff are working with the contractor on a plan for weekend recreational access, where possible. We will publicise details on this as they become available.
Logging trucks will be using Marsden Valley Road to transport logs out of the valley, between the hours of 6am and 6pm. Our contractors will be making sure their drivers are safe and courteous, and we ask that you please take care if you are travelling in the area during the harvest period.
The trucks will slow for the speed/cushions/humps that are currently being installed on Marsden Valley Road and will slow to 30km/hr past the Nelson Christian Academy during drop-off and pick-up times. Council is also investigating speed reduction solutions at the intersection of Marsden Valley Road and the Ridgeway. 
Throughout the harvest, crews will be using a new felling machine that will reduce damage to trees, meaning less debris will be left behind. PF Olsen will also remove slash from skid sites, where possible, which will be used to produce biofuels and landscaping products. 
Council will also carry out other scheduled work in the area during the harvest period, including weed control and a front-country cull.
Following the harvest, grass seed will be spread to reduce the risk of erosion in the area until Council decides how to move forward with its forestry assets, which it is currently reviewing. 
On 9 February 2023, Council voted to establish a “Right Tree, Right Place” taskforce to lead this review, which will provide recommendations to Council by the end of year for future land use and management of Council-owned land currently used for forestry production.

Shine a light on your passions 
Nelson City Council’s new event, My Time My Life, is an opportunity for Nelsonians to showcase their interests and hobbies and meet like-minded individuals in the community.
Set out as a series of three events that will take place Atawhai, Stoke and Victory between May and July, My Time, My Life will culminate in a final, grand event at Saxton Field in August.
Each event will be made up of booths showcasing the hobby or interest of the individual or group running it - from coin collecting to mahjong, flower pressing, music, and beyond, this event is a celebration of all the things that bring joy to people’s spare time.
Group Manager Community Services Andrew White said it was a great opportunity for people not only to share their own passions, but maybe even find a new one along the way.
“This isn’t about selling anything, it’s not for commercial entities, it’s about creating connections, discovering new hobbies, and finding out a little bit more about those who live in our community.
“That’s why we’re holding small events in different suburbs around the city, so everyone involved has a higher chance of meeting others from their immediate community. You never know, you may find a kindred spirit living closer than you thought.”
Anyone interested in hosting a booth at the event can register their interest through My Time, My Life on Shape Nelson. Once registrations have been received, someone will be in touch to find out more about your hobby and how you can share it with others.
Registrations of interest close 21 April, 2023.
Council encourages active lifestyles
A new, free exercise class aimed at getting our city’s older citizens active outdoors has started in central Nelson.
The classes, funded through the He Rautaki Whakatupuranga/City for All Ages strategy, are led by ACC accredited community fitness providers Angela Baker, Ollie Martin and Leigh Dalzell, and take place on Thursdays at midday at the outdoor exercise station alongside the Maitai River Walkway, near the Collingwood Street Bridge.
The Strategy’s goal is to make Nelson an age-friendly community, and in it, physical activity and social connectedness are identified as key elements of overall wellbeing. These classes encourage both. They also help participants keep their muscles strong, which is so important for maintaining strong bones and avoiding falls.
Angela said the aim of the classes is to get older people exercising safely outdoors, using the infrastructure the city already has. 
“A lot of people don’t know how to use this equipment. We need people to learn how to use it safely, and ideally, go on to bring others along with them, and teach them how to use it.”
The classes were trialled at exercise stations in Saxton Field and Tāhunanui late last year. Regular attendees reported moving better and more freely, and it had also resulted in new friendships, Angela says. The classes have now re-started at those locations, in addition to the new central city location.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith and Nelson MP Rachel Boyack joined Angela for a quick rundown on the classes at the Maitai site.
Mayor Smith said Nelsonians were fortunate to have an abundance of outdoor activities to choose from, and he enjoyed sea kayaking, running and swimming. 
“Council has made an incredible investment in equipment around the district, and I'm immensely proud that in the last census Nelson was the most active region in New Zealand. But we need to keep working at it. 
“The big challenge of the next 25 years is that our older population is growing hugely, to a point where it is a third of the total, and we want to encourage people to keep up their exercise in their older years.
“There’s lots of options and people need to find what they enjoy and keep it age relevant.”
Rachel Boyack says she loves to get out on her e-bike and also loves to swim, whether it’s in the Parliamentary gym’s pool during a long day, or at Tāhunanui Beach with her dog. 
Taking the time to be active and decompress was critical, she says.
The classes are aimed at older adults aged over 65, but no one is turned away. They run Mondays at midday at Saxton Field outside the stadium on the gym equipment and Thursdays at midday on the gym equipment next to mini golf in Tāhunanui and at the new Maitai site.

Deputy Mayor’s Message
Keeping our city centre moving forward.
Our city centre serves as the beating heart of our community – a hub of events, connections, and activity, and as a Council we’re keen to invest and enhance it.
The past few years have been incredibly challenging for our whole community, first with households and businesses experiencing major disruptions as we took needed action to keep each other safe through the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and now with its long tail of economic impacts, including significant inflation.
As we focus on recovery from both our August flooding event and those economic impacts, we’re looking at how we can best unlock our city centre’s full potential, and our Annual Plan released for consultation today, includes some major projects designed to do just that.
We’re proposing substantial investment in Bridge Street through co-investment of $36 million from Central Government, upgrading our infrastructure to enable more housing in the city centre and greater climate resilience for future weather events. Alongside these underground infrastructure investments, we’ll be looking to create a linear active transport corridor, supporting us to reduce emissions and encouraging a busier, more vibrant Bridge Street, with greater foot traffic and people staying for longer.
Supporting this is the proposal for an urban play space in the city centre, investigation into a new community arts hub in the heart of Whakatū, and government funding for a new creative tourism festival in winter to attract visitors to the city year-round – and that’s just the headline projects. In short, there’s a lot happening. 
But we know changes can bring disruption, which is why I’m proud to be leading our relationship with key stakeholders as the chair of our new City Centre Business Forum. Through this forum we hope to strengthen engagement and communication with our business community, and partner to ensure the best outcomes from our investment. 
We know we deliver at our best when we work in tandem with our community – so please have your say on the Annual Plan, share your aspirations for our city, and help us unlock all that we can be.
Deputy Mayor Rohan O’Neill-Stevens

Public Notice
Notice of proposed lease to City Club incorporated at Trafalgar Park Lane.
Public Notice Date: 15 March 2023
Closing Date and time: 19 April 2023 at 4pm
Council proposes to grant a ground lease to City Club Incorporated of the land at Trafalgar Park Lane on which the building currently owned by Tasman Rugby Union is situated, for a period of up to eight (8) years, for a facility that members can use for club activities including snooker, darts and other indoor sporting activities.
The land at Trafalgar Park Lane is approximately 390m2 shown outlined blue on the map below, described as part of the land in record of title NL11C/1243 (Lot 1 DP 17772) held as recreation reserve subject to the Reserves Act 1977; and part of the land in record of title NL22/128 (Lot 7 DP 93) held for the purpose of a sports ground. 
Any person wishing to make an objection or submission to this proposal should do so in writing by sending it to Jules Read, Leases Officer, Nelson City Council 110 Trafalgar Street Nelson 7010, or to PO Box 645 Nelson 7010, by email to enquiry@ncc.govt.nz or online through the Shape Nelson page. Objections and submissions must be received by the Council by 4:00pm on 19 April 2023.
Objections or submissions should state if the objector or submitter wishes to make an oral objection or submission to support their written objection or submission.
Additional Information:
Both clubs currently share facilities at Kinzett Terrace, however the City Club’s lease there is due to expire in November this year.
Tasman Rugby Union have proposed that City Club Incorporated purchase their Trafalgar Park Lane building to allow both clubs to expand and develop their activities. The sale is dependent on the City Club being approved the ground lease from Council for the building.
Should the sale go through, the lease to Tasman Rugby Union at Kinzett Terrace would be amended to allow them to lease the building in its entirety. This will allow for Tasman Rugby Union to relocate their whole organisation to one building, establish a high-performance unit, provide Mako team rooms for men and women's rugby and install an all-weather turf to the outside area.
Tasman Rugby Union have confirmed that if the proposed changes go ahead then the all-weather turf would be available for bookings by other groups and sports.
For further details on the proposed lease and subsequent changes at each site please visit our Shape Nelson page at nelson.govt.nz. Alternatively, you can contact Jules Read, Leases Officer, on jules.read@ncc.govt.nz or call into the Council Office or libraries to view the details.
Grove Street’s hidden gem gets a makeover 
Nelson City Council is in the process of transforming land purchased at 52 Grove Street to extend and improve access to Grove Reserve.
Most of the landscaping has been finished, with planting and grass sowing due to occur in autumn when the weather is wetter and cooler. Once we have had good grass growth, the new area will be open to the public.  
The reserve is currently partially occupied by Grove Street Kindergarten and the Nelson Community Toy Library, but the children’s play equipment outside the leased areas is for the general public. Access and visibility of the reserve was very limited, and Council’s aim is to return the purchased site to grass so the amenity can be enjoyed more widely.  
Group Manager Community Services Andrew White says opening up and extending the size of the reserve is part of the work Council is doing to encourage more people to live close to the city centre.  
“Grove Reserve was a little hard to find, and we’d love the community to be able to use it more. Housing intensification is a key priority for Council and that means we need to make sure people living near the city have access to good quality open space areas.”  
The reserve now enjoys a 15m wide frontage, which provides direct visibility from the street, including the play area. This is a significant improvement to safety and functionality.  
Grove Street Kindergarten and the Nelson Community Toy Library remain on site.  
The house on the property was first offered to several relocation companies and then carefully deconstructed with salvageable parts removed and recycled to reduce material going to landfill.  
Budget for the purchase and landscaping required for this project has come from Development Contributions, paid to Council by housing developers to reflect the costs of providing the infrastructure required by new housing developments. This means that there is no impact on rates.

Council opens up $8.15 million Housing Reserve
Councillors Aaron Stallard, James Hodgson, Campbell Rollo and Rachel Sanson (pictured) were among a group of seven councillors who visited Abbeyfield Mata Close recently, to learn more about the affordable housing model offered by Abbeyfield for older people, and how it builds community connections. 
Council recently resolved to open up the remaining $8.15 million Housing Reserve to support and enable community housing providers and iwi trusts in Whakatū Nelson, to deliver an enduring supply of social and affordable housing in the city. For more information on Abbeyfield, see abbeyfield.co.nz.
The work of recovery continues – stabilisation of Moana Avenue and completion of geotechnical assessments 
Work will start at the beginning of April to enable Moana Avenue to return to two lanes of traffic, one of the remaining few roads in Nelson still impacted by the August 2022 weather event.
Council’s contractors will be installing a debris or ‘catch’ fence along the eastern side of Moana Avenue, from the driveway of 134 Moana Avenue, extending 70 metres towards the roundabout. The fence consists of steel posts, steel mesh and tensioned cables that will be anchored into the ground, designed to protect road users and houses from falling rocks, similar to that used along SH1 following the Kaikōura earthquake.
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith says that geotechnical experts have been working closely with Council engineers to develop a plan to stabilise the area.
To install the fencing safely and efficiently, Moana Avenue will be closed between Stansell Avenue and Princes Drive from 3 April 2023 and 19 May 2023. Residents that live within the closure will have access, but the road will be closed to all other users for the duration of the works.
In addition to the progress on Moana Avenue, Nelson City Council has now provided geotechnical assessments to all residents who had slips originating from Council land in the August 2022 severe weather event. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the recovery process for those affected by the event.
The severe weather event in August 2022 caused extensive damage and disruption across our community, and Mayor Nick acknowledges that the recovery process is ongoing and that many residents continue to face significant challenges.
“Council is committed to supporting those impacted by the event and providing them with the information they need to move forward,” Mayor Nick says.
“We are pleased to provide geotechnical assessments to remaining affected residents, which will help them make informed decisions about next steps.”
Council has established a dedicated team to manage the recovery process and ensure that affected residents receive the support they need. The Recovery team is working through each report to make a recommendation to the elected members’ Storm Recovery Taskforce about possible remedial options. These options are expected to be presented to full Council during April 2023.
Following any decisions by Council on remedial works (should Council deem this to be the appropriate action), the work will occur in two stages.
Stage one – a detailed design package and consents (potentially both resource and building) may need to be secured, which is expected to take up to three months. Private insurers will be able to guide residents through this process as there may be multiple parties involved in remediation works.
Stage two – contractors will then be engaged to undertake the works and depending on the specialist nature of remediation, this may take several months. At the earliest it is anticipated that remedial work could start in August.
Council’s Navigator service remains open to anyone affected by the weather event and operates from a Hub beside Civic House weekdays between 9.30am and 5pm. This team has been working closely with residents to provide information, guidance, and assistance throughout the recovery process. The Navigator team will also visit people at home by arrangement.
“We encourage those who have been impacted to continue to reach out to us for assistance and guidance,” Mayor Nick says.
“The provision of geotech reports is a significant milestone, but we recognise there is still much work to be done to fully recover from the event. Nelson City Council remains committed to working with our community to address the ongoing impacts of the severe weather event and support those who have been affected.”
Nelson jewellery week returns - wow, view, make, wear and inspire: 
13 - 23 April 2023 
Following the great success of the inaugural 2021 event, Arts Council Nelson welcomes makers, wearers and viewers to Whakatū to celebrate everything contemporary jewellery.
With over 30 exhibitions, plus workshops, public talks, central city activations and events for the public to view and participate in - there’s so much to discover!
Find the full programme at: nelsonjewelleryweek.nz

Meetings
The following meetings of the Nelson City Council have been scheduled. 
Civil Defence Emergency Management Group - Emergency Operations Centre, 28 Oxford Street, Richmond
1:30pm	4 Apr
Council
9am	13 Apr
Joint Shareholders Committee - Tasman District Council Chamber, 189 Queen Street, Richmond
1:30pm	27 Apr

What’s the story, [blue] morning glory?
Pest Patrol generally focusses on pests with a high biosecurity priority in our region – often they are uncommon pests, where strict rules apply to both removal and reporting. 
There are, of course, many other weed species in the region and while they may not face the same biosecurity rules, they still have significant impacts.
Council contractors control many weed species across a large amount of public land in the city, but the forgotten corners of private sections are just as important, as weeds will take any opportunity to establish and spread. Unfortunately, as most of these species are here to stay we all have a part to play in keeping them in check.
Vine weeds in particular can easily cause problems due to their fast growth rate and smothering habits. Many of these will be familiar to you, such as old man’s beard, banana passionfruit, jasmine and Japanese honeysuckle.
There is a great series of pamphlets available on Council’s website on identifying and controlling a range of pest species. Controlling pest vine invaders is worth a look.
One prolific vine pest, blue morning glory (Ipomoea indica) is present in many parts of Whakatū Nelson and easily spreads into surrounding properties via fast growing runners, either along the ground or from treetop to treetop.
Large blue-purple flowers appearing along fence lines and in the tops of trees are usually the first sign of this nasty weed. A few months later those same trees will be cloaked in a smothering layer of vine leaves and without intervention will eventually decline and die due to lack of light.
Hand weeding is quite effective for this plant as long as you can pull up the vines where they are rooting in the ground. Blue morning glory almost always spreads from live shoots rather than seed, so make sure you don't leave shoots in contact with on the ground when removing the vine as they will re-shoot into new vines. It also means that working with neighbours to control patches that occur across property boundaries is highly effective as once it’s gone, reinvasion by seed is unlikely.
Blue morning glory plant doesn’t need to be reported to Council, but it is banned from sale and propagation nationally, and care must be taken not to inadvertently spread it by dumping garden waste. Staying vigilant, keeping your patch clear and sharing information with others in your community are all helpful ways to help keep this garden invader under control. Weedbusters has some great tips for control weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-weeds/weed-list/blue-morning-glory
Conewatch: Ongoing
Project name	Likely end date	Location	Benefit	
Saxton Creek Upgrade Stage 4	End of Oct 2023 	Main Rd, Stoke	Flood mitigation	
Washington Valley Infrastructure Upgrade – Stage 1 (Hastings Street) 	April 2023	Hastings Street	Improve stormwater network and reduce flooding risk 	
Awatea Place Wastewater Pump Station 	August 2023	Awatea Place & Parkers Road	Improve wastewater network capacity and protect environment from overflows 	
Wastney Terrace Stormwater Upgrade 	May 2023	Atawhai Crescent (Corder Pond) via private property to Wastney Terrace and up to Sunnybank Rise 	Improve stormwater network capacity and reduce flooding risk 	

What’s on... at a Council venue near you
Saxton Stadium
Table Tennis Nelson Junior Coaching
Hours: Monday 3:30 -5pm
Wednesday 3:30 -5pm
2023 New Zealand Open Veteran Table Tennis – Thursday 6 – Monday 10 April
Trafalgar Centre
Nelson Giants vs Auckland Tuatara – Saturday 8 April, 5pm
Nelson Giants vs Franklin Bulls – Saturday 15 April, 5pm 
Founders Heritage Park
Hours: 10am – 4:30pm Daily
Isel House and Park
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 3pm
Saturday: 12pm – 4pm
Sunday, Monday and Public Holidays: Closed
Nelson Public Libraries:
Elma Turner Library – Open as the Pop-up Library
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9.30am – 6pm
Wednesday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 4pm
Sunday: 1pm – 4pm
Community Corner with Employable – Thursday 30 March, 2pm – 3:30pm
Library Knitters – Weekly on Thursday, 10am – 12pm
Telehealth Drop In – Friday 31 March, 10am – 12pm
Tuku 23: Heritage Walk Map Pickup – Saturday 1 – Sunday 30 April
Goldfields Golden Bay – Sunday 2 April, 2pm – 3:30pm
Tuku 23: Board Games – Saturday 8 April, 10am-2pm
Sunday 9 April, 1pm – 3pm
Tuku 23: Bingo – Saturday 8 April, 2pm
Sunday Craft Club: Mini Terrariums – Sunday 9 April, 1pm
Pop-up Pukapuka – Wednesday 12 April, 5:45pm – 6.30pm
Tuku 23: Kate de Goldi – Saturday 15 April, 2pm
Tuku 23: Virtual Heritage Tours – Friday 21 April, 10am – 4pm
Tuku 23: Gerard Hindmarsh – Sunday 23 April, 2pm
Nightingale Library Memorial
Hours: Monday – Friday: 12pm – 4pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 1pm – 4pm
Wellby Talking Café – Thursday 13 April, 1:30pm – 3pm
Stoke Library
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:30am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday: 10am – 5:30pm
Saturday: 10am – 1pm
Sunday: Closed
Museums and Galleries:
Broadgreen House and Samuels Rose Gardens
Hours: 10:30am – 4:30pm Daily
Langbein Time – Thursday 16 February – Saturday 30 September, 10am – 4:30pm
The Suter Art Gallery & Theatre
Hours: 9:30am – 4:30pm Daily
Exhibition: Nelson Suter Art Society Autumn Exhibition – Wednesday 29 March – Sunday 16  April, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Refinery ArtSpace
Hours: Monday – Friday from 10am – 5pm, Saturday from 10am – 2pm
Nelson Fringe Festival – Dancing with Debra – Wednesday 29 March, 7:35pm – 8:35pm
Nelson Fringe Festival – The Departure Lounge – Wednesday 29 – Thursday 30 March, 6:05pm – 7:05pm
Nelson Fringe Festival: Manic Impressive – Thursday 30 March – Saturday 1 April, 7:35pm – 8:35pm
Nelson Fringe Festival: MisTaken Identity – Friday 31 March – Saturday 1 April, 6:05pm – 7:05pm
Nelson Fringe Festival: The A Team – Friday 31 March – Saturday 1 April, 9:05pm – 10:05pm
Nelson Fringe Festival: Walking Tour - Router Sidewalker – Saturday 1 April, 1pm & 3pm
Nelson Provincial Museum
Hours: Weekdays from 10am – 5pm, Weekends & Public Holidays from 10am – 4:30pm