Councillors to visit ‘surplus’ reserve

Matt Harnett and his sister Nicola Davis channel Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the last of the sun at Tahunanui beach.

Councillors will visit the Emano East Reserve before making a decision about whether to revoke the land’s reserve status to make way for a potential housing development.

Residents near the Emano East Reserve addressed the Nelson City Council’s sport and recreation committee on Tuesday.

They argued for retaining the green space which sits between Emano St, Mahoe St, and Matipo Terrace.

Resident Angus McIntosh told the committee he’d lived near the reserve for 20 years and had been shocked by the lack of consultation on the proposal.

He said residents had given years worth of time and energy to plantings and maintenance of the reserve.

He urged the council to support the reserve and ‘‘fulfil the dream we’ve been working towards for the past 18 years’’.

Resident Zoe Hilton said given the steepness of the land, work needed to mitigate slips or stormwater would prevent it from being used for affordable housing.

Hilton also said the reserve had an important role to play in the environmental corridor, added to the city’s conservation, air quality and was home to flightless birds and other wildlife.

In initial advice, council officers had said the reserve was ‘‘surplus to requirements’’ and could potentially be home to six housing lots.

A key concern expressed was the potential loss of connection between other parks and reserves that sit on a straight line between the Grampians and the coast.

The reserve forms part of an informal track that allows Nelsonians to walk from Bishopdale Saddle down the Railway Reserve, up and over the Jenner Rd steps, up the Murphy St Reserve, down the Emano East Reserve, up the track in Pipers Park, along Bob’s Track and down Day’s Track to Tahunanui.

Resident Kate Malcolm said she lived on the foothills of the Grampians and appreciated being able to walk directly over the hilly terrain to the sea.

She said the Nelson City Council should promote the walk and give it a formal name, suggesting ‘‘Grampians to the Sea’’, and provide more signage for the Emano East Reserve.

Other residents agreed investment was needed to signpost the reserve and its walking track.

Mayor Rachel Reese asked council officers to provide specific reasons as to why it was considered surplus.

The future of the reserve will be debated on March 28.