Brook holiday park set for summer
The Nelson City Council is hoping a marketing push will see more tourists pitch up in the Brook Valley Holiday Park this summer.
The park, which was closed to casual campers in 2014 but reopened for last summer, has been the subject of much council deliberation over its future.
Council staff are still recommending a more comprehensive review of all council-owned campgrounds, as part of the Brook Recreation Reserve management plan which was adopted in principle at the end of 2015.
However for this summer at least, Brook Valley Holiday Park will be open for business.
Council officer Chris Ward presented the recommendation to the sport and recreation committee last week.
‘‘What it comes down to is to give some certainty to both staff and to our community in relation to the status of the camp for this coming summer,’’ Ward said.
He said they had enough lead time to give the camp a marketing push on social media, through camping apps, and at Nelson’s iSite, and ‘‘build on’’ last summer’s use.
The campground had 596 guests between December 16 and March 31 last summer, staying a total of 668 nights.
The council decided to reopen the camp last summer to meet the expected influx of tourists detouring through Nelson in the wake of the Kaikoura earthquake.
The council also set up freedom camping zones with wi-fi, portaloos and basic infrastructure at Akersten St, Rutherford St, and Haven Rd.
Discounted overnight rates for freedom campers were applied to councilowned campsites, including Brook Valley Holiday Park.
A report to council said the short notice opening of the camp meant there had been limited marketing but this year the council could be more proactive in its approach.
The report said while further capital expenditure could be expected due to the camp’s age, there was still potential to generate income.
Ward told councillors the annual plan had provision for the cleaning and security costs of opening the camp this summer.
Any advertising push would come out of the council’s marketing budget.
The council spent nearly $14,000 last year to purchase new washing machines and a fridge, upgrade electrics for safety, and install smoke detectors. It also allocated $38,000 in operational expenditure to cover the cost of running the camp, including adding security staff.
The camp had 24-hour security between December 26 and January 7, and then scaled back to night-only security staff through to February 7 before going back to just routine nightly visits from security staff.
Security requirements at the camp will be reviewed ahead of the summer peak.
A suggestion was made by councillor Tim Skinner that the park have its own website, with Ward agreeing it needed more than just a page within the Nelson City Council website.
Cr Kate Fulton asked whether security arrangements could be reviewed at the same time as security for freedom campers was addressed.
Ward said the two issues were separate, however, as freedom camping was likely to need enforcement officers rather than general security staff.
He said in terms of the Brook Valley Holiday Park, the council would need to find a balance between ensuring the camp manager’s safety, and still being an inviting space for campers.
Cr Ian Barker said the campground had a long history in Nelson and could still perform an important function. ‘‘It’s a fantastic holiday spot.’’ Motorcamp usage was on the rise in New Zealand.
The camp was well-placed to continue providing alternative housing options for those in need.
The committee voted unanimously to open the camp this summer.