Changes to the rules governing rural land use and subdivision in the Tasman district go some way to allowing people to live cooperatively on rural land but concerns have been raised it does not go far enough.
The Tasman District Council released its Rural Land Use and Subdivision Policy changes this week.
The changes, which form part of the Tasman Resource Management Plan, include provisions for people to build more sleepouts on rural land, a greater flexibility in the number of titles allowed and better policy support for cooperative living and multiple housing.
Changes include a new provision for a detached minor dwelling as an alternative to a housekeeping unit of any size.
Other improvements include a provision for two sleepouts per principal dwelling but the sleepouts must be located within 20 metres of any dwelling. The new rules are in effect now, although submitters have a right of appeal if they disagree with the final decisions.
(The Nelson Mail, Wednesday, December 14th, 2016)
Nelson’s Trafalgar Centre is planned to be fully reopened on February 28, but councillors will be asked to approve more than $300,000 extra to finish the project.
This follows a series of delays after what began as an earthquake restrengthening project.
Nelson City Council consulting engineer Richard Kirby said the work had been more complex than originally thought, and in reassessing ways to keep costs down, timings had been delayed.
In July 2015, the project was estimated to cost $12.9m. In a report to council, the total forecast expenditure is now at $16.6m.
Kirby said since the work began, the project had been extended to make additional improvements, including rebuilding the Northern Building, which had caused the increase in funding allocated and the time taken to finish the project.
(The Nelson Mail, Wednesday, December 14th, 2016)
Public feedback will be sought early next year on a proposed cycleway linking Nelson Airport to Tahunanui Beach.
The proposed $870,000 project sprang from an an investigation that identified a need to improve Tahunanui’s cycling facilities.
Nelson City Council works and infrastructure committee chairman Paul Matheson said the project aimed to provide safe, enjoyable cycling alternatives between existing shared paths from Nelson Airport to Tahunanui Beach.
The first draft of the primary preferred route runs from Airport Place to connect with Bolt Rd through to Golf Rd. It then connects up with Beach Rd to meet Bisley Walk along the Tahunanui beachfront.
The proposed sections of pathway also has links to Muritai St and Green St and includes sections of proposed shared pathways to complete the links.
The public will have the chance to view the preferred route and potential cycleway designs at two open days on Tuesday, February 7 and Sunday, February 12.
(The Nelson Mail, Thursday, December 15th, 2016)
The upmarket apartments planned for the Bett Carpark site in central Nelson are now on the market.
The development on the corner of Trafalgar and Nile Streets in the central city has been named Bett’s Corner and will give residents a leafy green outlook across to Christ Church Cathedral in Trafalgar Square.
Bett’s Corner is one of the 18 Special Housing Area complexes approved by Housing Minister Nick Smith and the Nelson City Council this year, which aim to offer the region high- density housing and also apartment-style living.
The four-floor apartment building will include 14 residences ranging from 91 square metre onebedroom units to 223 square metre three-bedroom units that include an office space, private deck and terrace.
The tender process for the apartments will close on February 1 next year.
Designed by Jorgen Andersen of Arthouse Architects, the development was planned for construction by Nelson-based building firm Scott Construction which had also been responsible for the Suter Art Gallery in Nelson, the Olive Estate residential subdivision in Richmond and the Sussex Mews development, as well as a number of bespoke private residences.
(The Nelson Mail, Friday, December 16th, 2016)
Nelson City Council has signed off more than $300,000 in extra funding for the Trafalgar Centre to cover functional improvements to the facility.
At a mammoth council meeting on Thursday, councillors heard reports from council engineer Richard Kirby, and council venue marketing officer Lynette Hartgill.
Kirby told councillors while the project had started as a restrengthening project, it had been extended to include general upgrades to the centre.
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the funding request, which Kirby said would attract a wide range of users to the facility.
This included installing new kitchen equipment, network and wi-fi hardware, general repairs and painting, and blackout curtains.
The Trafalgar Centre is set to officially reopen on February 28 after a series of delays and extensions to the project. The stadium partly re-opened earlier this year.
While it began as an earthquake restrengthening project with a budget of $12.9m, the project has been extended to include an upgrade to the surrounding Rutherford Park.
The project is estimated to come in at $16.6m, including $3m for Rutherford Park.
(The Nelson Mail, Friday, December 16th, 2016)
Sections in a controversial rural Nelson special housing area have hit the market.
Developer Jamie Harrington said seven lots had been sold, subject to resource consent. Harrington said resource consent was in process and was due any day now.
Eighteen lots in the ‘‘Otium Valley’’ subdivision in the Farleigh St special housing area in Atawhai have been advertised by Bayleys, and are being built by Principal Developments in conjunction with Hybrid Homes.
The Nelson City Council approved the subdivision by eight votes to two earlier this year. This was despite it not being recommended by council’s planning staff and engineers. A report presented to councillors said the site was unsuitable for development due to its rural zone and lack of sufficient infrastructure, including stormwater, wastewater, water and transport.
The project was considered under Nelson’s Housing Accord, which prioritises housing in existing residential zones, not rural sites.
However, the council voted in support of the development to increase Nelson’s housing stock, and the developer is required to address infrastructure issues.
Jamie Harrington said they consulted with a number of engineers who said the project was achievable.
Housing Minister and Nelson MP Nick Smith said councils needed to be satisfied that issues around infrastructure were adequately addressed before consent was granted for special housing areas. But Smith said complaints that he had heard from residents mostly centred on them losing the neighbouring green space.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, December 17th, 2016)
Nelson is one step closer to hosting the world’s first theatre project permanently housed inside a shipping container.
Nelson City Council threw its support behind Tiny Nelson Theatre (TNT) with a $20,000 grant to help set up the innovative space in the heart of the city.
Council staff on Thursday recommended contributing to the start-up costs for TNT, saying it would help enhance the CBD.
The team behind TNT wants to develop a space in Kirby Lane - a container mall project proposed by Bridge Street Collective founder Galen King to link Bridge St with New St.
TNT wants to bring an ‘‘explosion of vibrancy’’ to the central city with quality performing arts opportunities for seasoned professionals and emerging artists alike.
For more information, contact the trust through tinynelsontheatre@gmail.com.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, December 17th, 2016)
The world is full of magical things
patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
Bertrand Russell