Trust seeking to make a stand

Supporters fighting to save the historic Golden Bay grandstand will likely preserve the building but want its community supporters to make themselves heard.

Golden Bay Grand Stand Community Trust (GBGCT) president Duncan McKenzie said despite a council decision to remove the more than 100 year-old grandstand, it was ‘‘not giving up the fight’’.

‘‘We need the community and all those people who say they want to keep it to stand up and be counted,’’ he said.

The community had been ‘‘poorly served’’ by last Thursday’s decision, he said.

‘‘Council’s flawed decisionmaking and an apparent absence of common sense have characterised the experience of the Golden Bay Grand Stand Community Trust in trying to work to save the grandstand.’’

It would now consider its position and welcomed further contributions of support and ideas for preserving the building.

A majority of councillors on Thursday voted to confirm, as resolved twice previously, a decision to remove the grandstand from its spot at the Golden Bay Recreation Park, near Takaka.

Councillors, including the two Golden Bay Ward representatives, were divided on the issue which has also polarised views in the community.

The grandstand would be deconstructed in a way that made the option of rebuilding it on another site possible.

Tasman mayor Richard Kempthorne said in a statement that if the trust wanted to pursue that option ‘‘we would welcome it and will give them the first choice.’’

The grandstand has been sub- ject to court proceedings, when the public became aware it was to be demolished to make way for a carpark at the new centre.

In July the trust was given three months to complete a restoration programme for the structure.

Meanwhile, the rec park centre remains partially closed and is losing money, with parking and drainage work still outstanding.

As well as the three-month reprieve, councillors in July also agreed to authorise council staff to arrange the demolition of the squash courts and rear lean-to extension – at the trust’s cost.

There was disagreement over the estimated cost of that demolition work and it has not been completed.

Kempthorne said in his statement that the council could not in good faith put the operation of the new community facility in doubt for any longer.

The council didn’t believe the trust’s proposal could be implemented in its current form, and it couldn’t delay a decision any longer.

‘‘This has been extremely challenging for everyone involved – the trust, the members and users of the Rec Park Centre Golden Bay, the wider community and the council – and we are very mindful of the passion and hard work the trust has put into its proposal.’’