Natureland debate opened to public
The Nelson public will be asked how they want to fund Natureland, despite the Nelson City Council not reaching a position itself.
The council is asking for public submissions on the funding for the Natureland Trust in its Long Term Plan. Natureland has indicated that it may not be able to continue operating with the current level of council funding of $170,00 per year.
In its Annual Plan document, the council has included the options presented in a letter sent to it by the Natureland board earlier this year.
These include increasing the funding to to the trust to $248,000 per year; Natureland reducing the level of service it offers with the current funding model; seeking tenders and expressions of interest from other parties to run the Tahunanui zoo; or Natureland closing down.
The inclusion of the item, while ultimately approved, sparked lively debate among councillors at a general meeting of the council on Thursday.
Councillors Gail Noonan and Ian Barker said hearing the public’s views was the highest priority.
‘‘The purpose of the document is for us to hear from our community,’’ Noonan said. ‘‘The important thing is to hear from them if they want to invest in this or if they’re not interested.’’
Cr Luke Acland said it was surprising that the council had not put forward its own position on the funding before opening it up to public consultation.
‘‘What we’re doing here is giving a raft of options instead of having a debate first about approving or declining the letter . . . it seems we are abrogating our responsibility.’’
Cr Matt Lawrey said he was surprised that the council was reconsidering the funding after its recent decision on the matter.
‘‘Lots of people want more money than we say we are going to give them, but we don’t afford them the same generous space in our consultation document to state their case.’’
Cr Mel Courtney said he was uneasy about sending the document to the public, and raised questions about the solvency of the trust.
‘‘I thought we made a decision weeks ago that the funding would be $170,000. The feeling in the community is that [the trust] should cut their cloth, adjust their costs, and move on with that budget we provide them.’’
However, Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese said the right decision had been made.
‘‘I don’t think we could make a decision without hearing from the community. We haven’t had a conversation with the community about this for a very long time, about Natureland ceasing to operate.’’
Before excusing himself from the debate, Cr Mike Rutledge informed the council that his wife Meg Rutledge would be stepping down from her position as Natureland director yesterday.
Council strategy manager Mark Tregurtha said the reason the letter was included was due to the timing and public nature of its release.
Tregurtha said the letter was received after council workshops held in December and February. He said that given Natureland’s significance to the public, it was relevant to include it in the document, especially with the possibility that Natureland might close if the funding level remained as it was.
In last year’s Long Term Plan process, the trust submitted to the council a request for an operating grant of $248,000 per year for 10 years, as well as a one-off $50,000 capital works grant.
This amount was supported by council staff as ‘‘about right’’, but was hotly debated in the council chamber, before being amended to $248,000 in the 2018-19 financial year, dropping to $170,000 each year over the next nine years.
Submissions on the consultation plan will open to the public on March 29, with all submissions to be received by council by 5pm on May 2. 10
‘‘I don’t think we could make a decision without hearing from the community.’’
Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese