Big display of support for grandstand

Protesters are hopeful that a groundswell of support for the Golden Bay grandstand may lead to Tasman district councillors rescinding an earlier decision supporting its demolition.

About 100 protesters showed up at the Golden Bay Community Board meeting in Collingwood yesterday. Many braved the cold to line the windows looking into the packed meeting room to show their support for the more than 100-year-old building.

The turnout followed a larger protest of more than 250 residents in Takaka last week. Protesters have occupied the grandstand since June 4, braving freezing conditions to sleep in shifts around the clock to prevent the council demolishing it.

Golden Bay Grandstand Restoration Society chairman Noel Baigent said the meeting had left the protesters hopeful.

Community board chair Abbie Langford moved a motion to reaffirm its support to retain the grandstand in situ.

The board also voted to support councillors Paul Sangster and David Ogilvie’s intention to move a motion at the next full Tasman District Council meeting in June to rescind their earlier resolution to support demolition.

At the meeting, Sangster said the way grandstand supporters had been treated by the council was ‘‘the most appalling episode’’ he’d seen in his 27 years as a councillor.

‘‘I can’t believe we have spent $300,000 fighting a community group who want to take something over and look after it,’’ he said. ‘‘For the first time in my life, I’m going to be lobbying councillors.’’

Resident Chris Hill said the council had used ‘‘incorrect processes and governance’’.

‘‘If you take away all the emotion, the debacle that it’s been, even what it symbolises in terms of being dictated to and being dominated [by the council]: this is about tino rangatiratanga, self-determination, it’s about our community determining what’s right for us.’’

Victoria Davis said it would be ‘‘so wrong’’ if council spent one more dollar of ratepayers’ money fighting the matter. ‘‘Leave it where it is and let’s have the end of this saga.’’

Demolition of the grandstand was postponed last Friday as two community groups sought interim relief in the High Court and filed judicial review proceedings to look at the council’s reasons to demolish it. Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne said the council would not be taking any ‘‘irreversible action’’ in relation to the grandstand until this was resolved.