Our Nelson Issue 186
17 January 2024 

Astrid Sayer: making Nelson a cozy connected place
With a Danish mum and a dad from New Zealand, Astrid Sayer feels at home in Copenhagen and Nelson. As she prepares to spend 2024 in Denmark, she reflects on what makes Nelson special, and shares her ideas on bringing a buzz to the inner city.
“While I’ve got roots in both Denmark and 
New Zealand, Nelson is really where I’ve grown-up. Like my parents, many people choose Nelson to raise their families. There’s such a strong community feel. There are so many people that know you and your family.”
Spending time in both countries has given her insight into the differences and similarities of the two cultures.
“There’s a Danish word ‘hygge’ - it’s a concept of coziness and feeling like home. It’s an important concept in Denmark, especially in Copenhagen. Even in winter you can walk around the city, and it still feels cozy and familiar. In contrast, I was recently in Singapore as part of a travel scholarship. It is quite a futuristic city with amazing transport systems, but it also celebrates its tropical location with super lush green spaces where you just want to hang out.”
For Astrid, it’s all about recognizing and enhancing what is unique to Nelson.
“I love travelling, but for me, I don’t think anywhere has the same feel as Nelson. Of course, there are ideas we can borrow from other cities, like the pedestrianised streets in Copenhagen or the greenery of Singapore, but it’s also understanding what’s special about Nelson and building on that.”
Making sure everyone feels safe moving around the city is a priority for Astrid, she supports infrastructure changes that encourage active transport.
“I don't always feel safe when I'm on my bike. Sometimes drivers seem to be frustrated with cyclists. But you know, I'm annoyed too. I know I'm in their way but don't want to be in their way. I feel biking should be encouraged because it’s good for the environment and for our health. So, any changes we can make that make it safer for everyone will be great.”
She feels positive about the Bridge to Better project enabling more people to live in the inner city.
“If we're bringing more people into the city, then we help local businesses, retail, and hospitality. There’ll be more vibrant nightlife and a buzz around town. People living in the inner city also frees up other areas to be our parks and recreation, where we can really connect with nature.”
To read the full story, go to: 
our.nelson.govt.nz

Precautions needed in Nelson reserves as fire risk rises
Due to recent drying winds and low rainfall, the fire risk across our region is increasing, and we all need to take precautions in our reserves. 
Following discussions with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), Acting Group Manager Community Services Martin Croft announced earlier this week that Nelson City Council was, from Monday 15 January, erecting Stay Safe During Fire Season signage at the entrances to our main reserves outlining measures people can take to keep themselves safe during peak fire season. 
“While we are not closing any reserves at this stage, we are asking people to take some sensible measures that will ensure their own safety when they visit a reserve." Martin says.
“We take our lead from FENZ and if the risk increases further, closures in our very high risk-rated reserves may be necessary, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.”
Throughout the summer fire season, Council will be working closely with FENZ to continually assess the fire risk and if any action needs to be taken. During the fire season we closely monitor the Build Up Index (BUI), which is an indicator of the difficulty in suppressing a fire that has started. Any decision around reserve closures is made by Council with advice from FENZ. Information on the fire risk will be updated every Friday on the Nelson Region Fire Risk Shape Nelson page and communicated via Antenno and the Council’s Facebook page. Any urgent changes will be sent via Antenno and on Facebook.  
We are now in our second highest fire risk level orange: high – the grass is almost completely dry and there is an elevated risk of a fire starting. The highest level is red: extreme. 
During this time, we recommend: 
Visiting our reserves early in the morning (before midday) or in the evening (after 7pm), when temperatures and wind speeds are lower and humidity is higher, reducing the likelihood of fire starting and taking hold.  
Taking a cellphone on your visit and letting someone know where you are going and when you will be back. 
Reviewing the reserve maps on our Shape Nelson website and familiarising yourself with the exit points and clear zones. Exit points lead off the reserve, while clear zones are areas of low vegetation and high visibility people can go to should rescue be required. 
We strongly advise that reserve users remain in the lower areas only of the following reserves, this is for ease of evacuation in the event of a fire: 
Grampians Reserve 
Maitai Water Reserve 
Marsden Valley Reserve 
Tantragee Reserve (Codgers)  
Atmore Reserve 
Pipers Reserve 
Hanby Park 
Sir Stanley Whitehead Reserve 
Brook Conservation Reserve 
Botanical Hill Reserve 
Roding Water Reserve 
Bolwell Reserve 
Please take note of this advice for your own safety and if you see signs of smoke or fire in any reserves, please call 111 immediately.
For the latest fire risk information and maps showing exits on reserves visit: 
shape.nelson.govt.nz/fire-risk
Railway Reserve – NRSBU Section 7
From Monday 15 January, a section of Railway Reserve between Elms Street and Saxton Road will be closed until mid-March.
Contractors will be working in this area as part of a larger project installing a secondary sewer main from Monaco, through Saxton and into the Beach Road pump station. This project will improve the resilience of the sewer network.
Thank you for your patience while we carry out this important work.
Read more at shape.nelson.govt.nz/nrsbu-pipe-duplication or scan the QR code below.

Meetings
Council meeting
9am	1 Feb
Hearing Panel
9am	9 Feb
Audit, Risk and Finance Committee
9am	14 Feb
Joint Nelson Tasman Regional Transport Committee - Tasman District Council Chamber, 189 Queen Street, Richmond
9.30am	20 Feb
Chief Executive Employment Committee - Mayor's Office, Floor 2B, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson
1pm	21 Feb
Saxton Field Committee - Boardroom, Sports House, 142 Saxton Road East, Saxton Field Complex
9.30am	27 Feb

Have your say on speed in Nelson Tasman
Have your say on speed in our region! In communities across Nelson Tasman, we've heard that there is support for more appropriate speed limits, and now there is an opportunity to bring all views together into a plan.
We're presenting four options for urban roads and four options for rural  roads and asking for your feedback. Leave your feedback online at  shape.tasman.govt.nz/speed-review or scan the QR code below.