Our Nelson Issue 177 – 30 August 2023

What are we proposing for your neighbourhood? 
Plan Change 29 proposes three new residential zones to help Nelson meet growing demand for housing in the region:
General Residential Zone: up to three residential units with a height of eight metres (two storeys) per site, subject to conditions.
Medium Density Residential Zone: permits up to three units with a height of 12 metres (three storeys) per site, subject to conditions.
High Density Residential Zone: permits up to three units with a height of up to 19.5 metres (six storeys) per site, subject to conditions.
**These zones would apply in all non-rural areas of Nelson except for areas of Tāhunanui, The Wood, Rocks Road, and near the Maitai River. These areas have hazards associated with them which mean they are not suitable for further intensification.**
This isn’t a one-size fits all approach. Each zone has a variety of standards that new buildings will need to comply with. This means that whether a development needs a resource consent will depend on the design of the new building and the specifics of the site itself. The plan change also includes rules to ensure homes surrounding a new development are not unduly shaded and have reasonable access to sunlight.
If you would like face-to-face assistance with making a submission we advise getting in contact with the Friend of Submitters, an independent advisor who can help you make a submission. There is no cost to you for this service. Council’s planning team are also available to help with questions you may have. 
Go to shape.nelson.govt.nz/plan-change-29 for more information including an overview of Plan Change 29, FAQs, live Q&A, and contact details. Log into the ePlan on the page and view your house and street. 
Drop-in session with Council staff and elected members
Saturday 2 September, 8am  –  1pm
Blue caravan, Saturday Market
Montgomery Square Nelson

Te Pa Harakeke wins at Civil Contractors Awards
Two contractors entered separately, but together took home the award for the category.
At the Civil Contractors Nelson Marlborough Awards, Nelmac and Taylors Contracting were announced joint winners for their work on Te Pa Harakeke. Entering the ‘Eliot Sinclair sponsored $750,001 to $2 Million’ category, both were recognised as instrumental in the delivery of the very successful and popular Te Pa Harakeke project.
Nelson’s tamariki and adults alike have enjoyed the park since its opening in November 2022, which features natural playground equipment, including a rope climbing course, a teepee and a bird-watching hut. Prior to its opening, contractors spent months preparing and building the space. Taylors Contracting were tasked with the job of cleaning out the old Modellers Pond. This involved the removal of concrete from around the Pond and the drying out and removal of algae as well as the relocation of the Pond’s inhabitants – eel and whitebait.
Nelmac’ involvement was the detailed landscape design and the playground design and construction. The space includes large open grassed areas with seating and shelter. A network of trails and boardwalks wind through the site connecting spaces together.
Deputy Chief Executive/Group Manager Infrastructure Alec Louverdis said the awards keep on coming for 
Te Pa Harakeke.
“Te Pa Harakeke won Healthy Park of the Year at the 2023 Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards and has been praised for its use of natural play equipment and materials that reflect the nearby estuary and beach. This project involved extensive groundwork and an innovative approach to design and we are delighted that our contractors for this project have been recognised for their work.”  

Community Investment Fund Grants open 
Applications for Nelson City Council’s Community Investment Grants, generally between $2000 and $5000, are open now. 
The grants are available for community projects in Nelson that:
reduce the impacts of poverty
reduce social isolation and bring communities together
support people who are living in substandard housing or are at risk of homelessness
improve general community well-being.
Applications close 6 October 2023. Decisions and grant payments will be made in December.
For more information, or to make an application, please see: shape.nelson.govt.nz/community-investment-fund-application

Remediation work takes place at Tāhunanui back beach
Proactive work to cover and protect the exposed face of the contaminated sawdust pile at Tāhunanui back beach has been carried out.
A section of the beach, and the back beach carpark was closed on Friday, 25 August as Nelson City Council contractors installed an asphalt bund to divert water runoff from the carpark away from the beachfront edge, and wrapped the exposed sawdust with geotextile cloth and partially covered it with sand. 
Council was able to undertake the work under the Resource Management Act's emergency provision after heavy rain and large waves on the weekend of 19 August caused further erosion and undercutting of the sawdust pile. 
In addition to this work, Council has appointed a specialist consultant to manage the sawdust remediation and removal. Their first task will be to produce a risk assessment report and identify any further investigation required.
An application to the Ministry for the Environment’s Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund has been submitted. Council staff will now work collaboratively with ministry staff on the next steps for the application.
Four Lanes Festival Nelson
A family fun celebration of culture, hospitality, art and free entertainment, Four Lanes Festival returns to the city in early September.
First held in 2019, then cancelled in 2021 due to Covid, the festival is bringing back some of the crowd favourites like the Ferris wheel, live music and circus acts in Buxton Square, as well as introducing some new experiences like Old Bank Lane’s silent disco – there will be something for everyone this year at Four Lanes Festival. 
The festival encourages people to wander four key areas:  
Kirby Lane, for the Noodle Market and tastes of Asia 
Fiddle Lane and Buxton Square which will host Sturgeons Fun Fair, complete with Ferris wheel and live entertainment from Nelson including jazz band Fat Sally and the Splankies, youth bands The De Campos Club, Parallel Park and Reece Milton, and blues and RnB band Juke Joint 
Old Bank Lane will turn into a not-to-be-missed silent disco
Morrison Square will transport you into the Latin Quarter with a festival of Latin dancing, singing, food and entertainment including Sophia Moreno, The Sambassadors, Alvaro Saura, Pablo Merengue, Zumba, Transandinos and DJ Green Chilli to finish off the night. 
Throughout the lanes, roving street performers Ragged Crow Morris Dancing and the Twisty Twins will show off their talents. 
The festival is organised by Nelson City Council in conjunction with Uniquely Nelson.  
Four Lanes Festival
Saturday, 2 September, 3–8pm 
Kirby, Fiddle and Old Bank Lanes and Morrison and Buxton Squares 
Car park closure 
Half of Buxton Square car park, including the freedom camping area, will be closed from 6am – 11:59pm on Saturday 2 September 2023, to accommodate the festival. 

Change to flood relief advisory service
Whilst some people have had their claims settled and repairs finished, resulting in the demand for the Navigator Hub service easing, a number of people are still in contact with the service.
A decision has therefore been taken to move to an appointment based service and close the Navigators hub. This will offer a more personalised, tailored service to those Nelson residents who still have need of it.
The Navigator service provides support to anyone at all affected by the floods – not just red and yellow-stickered homes.
From 4 September, anyone who wishes or needs to get support or advice, can now contact the Navigator service directly on navigator@ncc.govt.nz or by phone 022 011 4270.
Appointments are available Monday-Friday 09:00 – 16:30, and out of hours appointments are possible via video chat.
A Navigator will be able to meet clients at the Customer Service Centre at Civic House, or at people’s homes.
Drop-in appointments at the Customer Service Centre are still possible.
What can a Navigator help with? 
So far, the Navigators have helped 218 households to date, and have completed almost 500 resident enquiries, some of which take weeks to resolve.
The Navigator service also visit properties to see for themselves the problems people are facing. They regularly attend meetings at peoples’ homes with New Zealand Claims Resolution Staff (NZCRS), or with Nelson City Council staff when residents have concerns about particular issues on their property.
The NZCRS is currently supporting 1,017 homeowners with insurance claims across 
New Zealand, with 59 of these relating to last year’s Nelson flooding.
A Navigator can arrange assistance for people from organisations such as the Rural Support Trust, Temporary Accommodation Service, NZCRS, Nelmac and other teams within Nelson City Council.
They can also offer advice and support with applications for the Mayoral Relief Fund, Rates Remissions, and the Fifeshire Foundation, and can be asked by residents to be present as a support person when they meet with Building or Planning officers, NZCRS, and NCC officers from other parts of the Council.