When Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre closed in 2013 due to earthquake risk, its founder Brian Mills expressed disappointment at the fate of a venue he had helped create in 1973.

On Saturday, Mills had a much happier task, joining Mayor Rachel Reese and Nelson Giants director of operations Phill Jones as the 44-year-old building’s rebirth came full circle at the Trafalgar Centre family open day.

Mayor Reese also paid tribute to council staff and local contractors who assisted in the $16.6 million redevelopment and expressed a wish for the venue to become a well-used facility that the city would be proud of.

(The Nelson Mail, Monday 10 April 2017)

In the name of fundraising and fraternity, a Nelson College old boy has introduced ‘‘serious glamping’’ to the list of wilderness activities at his alma mater’s outdoor education base.

Mataki Lodge was built in 1967 and borders the Nelson Lakes National Park near Murchison, 120km south of Nelson.

Privately-owned by Nelson College, the facility is the base for the school’s outdoor education programmes. Most students will visit Mataki Lodge during their time at Nelson College, starting in Year 10.

Former boarder Roger Green attended the school between 1962-67 and was among a group of students sent to Mataki in 1966 to blaze the new tracks through the bush area.

With the lodge’s 50th celebrations set for Queen’s Birthday weekend, Green has completed the first of what he hoped would become a regular occurrence among school alumni or anyone seeking a wild glamping adventure.

(The Nelson Mail, Tuesday 11 April 2017)

Beaches in Abel Tasman National Park are disappearing.

The rate of coastal erosion in the park is increasing as tropical storms become more prevalent, wreaking havoc on the most exposed beaches.

The Department of Conservation is looking at options including sand replenishment to rebuild some of the spits that are most vulnerable to erosion, to preserve Maori archaeological sites, and save important environmental and tourism assets.

DOC Motueka operations manager Mark Townsend said he was ‘‘raising a flag’’ to let the com- munity know about the challenges of coastal erosion.

He said tropical storms were more frequent, bringing heavy rain, high winds and sea swells that eat away at exposed beaches.

Tidal changes were also a threat, he said.

Townsend said sand replenishment was one option being looked at to restore the beaches.

It would involve applying for resource consent to move sand from other areas of the park to rebuild the spits that have been eroded.

Sand replenishment is done at Kaiteriteri every year and at Torrent Bay to protect the village.

In pre-European times, the beaches would have been covered in native grasses and sand-binding plants with dense forests in behind. Today, they are dominated by marram grass, gorse and other plants, Townsend said.

While dune restoration work was being done, more drastic measures could be needed.

Funding options would be explored once a decision has been made.

(The Nelson Mail, Thursday 13 April 2017)

Thought for the Week

Things turn out the best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.

(Art Linkletter)