Grandstand to remain, plans for restoration explored

The Golden Bay grandstand will remain, and a community group given the opportunity to apply for a lease and restore the building.

The Tasman District Council today rescinded earlier decisions to remove the grandstand, and invited grandstand supporters to work together with the Council on options for leaving the building in situ.

The Council also agreed the remaining budget for demolition of the grandstand would be made available to the group leasing the building to use towards restoration instead.

The new approach came after Golden Bay Councillor Paul Sangster introduced a Notice of Motion asking fellow councillors to rescind the previous Council decision to remove the building.

Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said this was part of the democratic process.
“Today’s decision means we have time to explore all the options for retaining the grandstand, and the Council has shown that we are genuinely committed to finding a workable way to keep it.”

Richard said there were issues that still needed to be resolved for the grandstand to be used and restored.

“It is not going to be as simple as some people think to resolve the various issues that need to be sorted to keep the building. However, we will take the time to work through all of those with the Golden Bay community in order to find the best way to keep the grandstand.

“Councillors, staff and the appropriate grandstand representatives will take part in a workshop together to explore the options for in-situ restoration.
“I look forward to the future when we will see the Golden Bay Rec Park fulfilling its potential as a successful recreation and leisure hub for the community, with a fully-functioning shared recreation centre and a restored grandstand both contributing to its vitality.”

Richard said the Council would seek advice on how to provide the final Code of Compliance certificate needed for the new Rec Park Centre Golden Bay.
ENDS

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