Grandstand to stay in the Bay for now
In an 11th-hour twist, the Tasman District Council has postponed its plans to demolish the Golden Bay grandstand.
Contractors were on Monday due to start work tearing down the more than 100-year-old structure.
However, in a statement yesterday afternoon, the council said it had been advised by the contractors that they ‘‘will not be able to begin work as planned on Monday’’.
‘‘A new date for the removal will be set once the contractor is ready to proceed,’’ the statement said.
The council said it had also been ‘‘made aware’’ that the Golden Bay Grand Stand Community Trust and Golden Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association had initiated judicial review proceedings in the High Court to challenge decisions about the grandstand.
‘‘The council is seeking legal advice but in the meantime, its decision to remove the building remains in effect.’’
The latest development comes as angry protesters consider civil disobedience, saying they will chain themselves to the building and are prepared to be arrested by police.
The grandstand has been occupied 24/7 by protesters, who are sleeping in the grandstand and camping on adjacent A&P Association land.
Trustee of the Golden Bay Grand Stand Community Trust, Jill Pearson, said she was relieved but also sad it had come to this. ‘‘The fact we have had to file legal proceedings again is disappointing.’’ But she said protesters would not stop occupying the grandstand.
Takaka police visited the protesters on Thursday morning and informed them that a squad of police from Motueka would be travelling over for the demolition.
Pearson said protesters had planned to chain themselves to the building and refuse to leave, even if they were served trespass notices.
Police would probably have to cut the chains to remove the protesters before arresting them, she said.
On Tuesday, more than 250 residents gathered outside the grandstand to protest the upcoming demolition.
The old building was to be removed as part of the development of the new Rec Park Centre, with the space it occupies earmarked for car parking.
But for more than two years, debate has raged between community groups and the council over whether the structure could remain.
Golden Bay Grandstand Restoration Society chairman Noel Baigent, who is also vice-president of the A&P association, said he hoped the High Court could truly investigate what had occurred. ‘‘We just hope that all the parties can contribute fairly and let’s have a look at this from a community point of view. It’s about the community wanting heritage and seats.’’
He said civil disobedience was the protesters’ ‘‘last resort’’ but they would use it if they had to.