Corporate boxes a go at Trafalgar Park
Nelson City Council has given the green light to build corporate boxes in Trafalgar Park, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Councillors on Thursday voted in favour of the Tasman Rugby Union’s (TRU) proposal to build the boxes ahead of the All Blacks test next September.
TRU commercial and marketing manager Les Edwards and architect Dave McLeod presented the plan at the end of November.
Several councillors raised concerns over the design, but due to the urgency of the project it was passed without amendments.
Cr Kate Fulton wanted the design to be looked over by a Urban Design Panel architect, instead of only chief executive Pat Dougherty and chair of the sports and recreation committee Tim Skinner.
Cr Matt Lawrey said the drawings of the boxes only showed the back, not the front.
‘‘It makes me uncomfortable being asked to approve something that I can’t see.’’
Dougherty said the plans emphasised the back design of the boxes because that had been his main focus.
‘‘My biggest concern was what is it going to look like from behind, is it going to be looking like a pimple on someone’s backside?’’
He said he didn’t think it was a good idea to run the design past the community as it would take a long time.
Cr Gaile Noonan said she was concerned about the recommendation not including details on the quality of the build and if it would be easy to maintain.
An amendment to the proposal to include Mayor Rachel Reese in the list of people to look over the final box design was lost.
Another amendment put forward by Cr Mike Rutledge to contribute $5000 to the building consent fees was also lost.
Cr Mel Courtney said he was ‘‘very uncomfortable’’ with the idea to waive the fees.
‘‘It just doesn’t sit well with me. I think we’re doing enough for them.’’