Nelson’s prospects among brightest, says MP
Nelson MP Nick Smith has given an optimistic take on Nelson Tasman’s prospects for the coming year, while reaffirming his support for the Southern Link route.
Smith delivered his annual speech to Nelson Rotary on Wednesday night, touching on economic performance, infrastructure and the environment as areas of importance for the region.
He advocated strongly for two controversial infrastructure projects for the region – the Waimea dam, and the Southern Link – both of which formed part of his campaign in last year’s general election.
On Wednesday he said both infrastructure projects were key to supporting new housing, and would be particular areas of focus for him in his role of an opposition MP.
He would be lobbying both Nelson and Tasman councils, and the new Government, for progress to be made.
Smith recently revealed he would not launch a governmenttargeted petition in favour of build- ing the Southern Link, after the National Party announced a suite of petitions for individual roading projects across the country it’s concerned might be halted.
Instead, Smith would give the new Government space to explore alternatives; in Wednesday’s speech he said this shouldn’t be viewed by opponents to the Link as him backing down.
‘‘Giving space to do this work is not giving up on my advocacy for the Southern Link,’’ he said.
‘‘The advantage of having these options further investigated is that it will enable them to be eliminated as unviable, rather than being dangled in front of the community as some sort of easy alternative solution.’’
The new Government would need to find a ‘‘credible’’ alternative if it was going to continue to oppose the Southern Link, he said following the speech.
He said Nelson Tasman contributed $100m in petrol taxes and road user charges each year, and said the vehicle fleet was expected to grow by more than 3000 vehicles per year, for the next three years.
The new Government needed to reveal what ‘‘significant new investments’’ it would make in the roading network to match the growth.
Smith also used his speech to address what he said was a ‘‘major upgrade’’ needed for the hospital.
‘‘My speech to Rotary last year was focussed on the new national laws and regulations I put in place to better manage seismic risks,’’ he said.
‘‘These new laws put an increased focus on the seismic strength of our emergency facilities and particularly our hospitals.’’
He was expecting to see reports from the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board next month, which would reveal what degree of urgency was needed for the upgrade.
‘‘It is not just important that our hospital is upgraded for seismic resistance, but it also needs to cope with our growing population and the ever-changing demands of modern medicine.’’
It was a ‘‘huge’’ project for the region with an initial budget of $150m.
Smith also took the opportunity to herald success stories for the region and following the speech said there had not been ‘‘many years when I can recite the overall prospects for our district as look- ing so good’’.
The region’s key sectors of horticulture, fishing, forestry and tourism were all ‘‘performing well’’ and there was ‘‘record high building and retail activity’’.
‘‘Our unemployment rate at just 2.2 per cent is the lowest in New Zealand and amongst the lowest in the world,’’ he said.
Smith also referred to Nelson playing host to the Black Caps, Silver Ferns, and All Blacks as a first for Nelson and a chance for the region to position itself as a ‘‘successful venue’’ for New Zealand sport.
The opening of the cycling velodrome, the Greenmeadows Centre, reopening of the Nelson School of Music, and the airport upgrade were all ‘‘important projects’’ the councils and community should be proud of.
As former Minister for the Environment, Smith praised the work by the Department of Conservation in Nelson Tasman, particularly the upcoming planned release of takahe into Kahurangi National Park, and the work by the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary to complete its ‘‘controversial pest control operation’’ last year.