Plan for pond to become park
The long-running saga of the weed-infested site has a new and possibly final twist – filling it in for a community park.
An alternative proposal for Nelson’s weed-blighted Modellers Pond would see the site filled in to become a ‘‘family-friendly community space’’.
The Nelson City Council sports and recreation committee will vote on the future plans for the Modellers Pond tomorrow, choosing between a full upgrade of the pond involving a concrete base or filling it in to create a community space with native vegetation.
In August last year the council voted to progress a proposal to upgrade the pond, as well as considering an alternative option provided by iwi. The upgrade proposal would see the pond retained but with 1200 cubic metres of concrete lining its base – reducing its size and enabling semiregular flushing with the tides, which would hopefully prevent the build-up of algae.
However, the alternative iwi proposal – which is being recommended by council staff – would result in the site moving in a very different direction, with the establishment of a grassed picnic area surrounded by native trees and shrubs.
The sports and recreation committee agenda outlined the details of the alternative proposal and council recommendations.
The report stated that council staff engaged with iwi from Tiakina, Ngati Toa, and Ngati Tama together with Te A¯ tiawa. While Ngati Toa supported the option to upgrade the pond, the other three iwi backed the idea to fill in the pond to create a community space.
The inspiration for the design is to replicate the environment ‘‘typical to the upper reaches of the Tahunanui Estuary’’, defined by clusters of native coastal vegetation to provide sheltered areas for picnics and recreation. These would include reeds and rushes on the estuarine margin, which along with their aesthetic appeal would complement a filtration system to further cleanse any stormwater as it leaves the site and before it enters the back beach estuary.
The design of the site would be intended to complement the model train network (which could be further extended in future for children), and would include picnic tables, barbecues and shade.
Cultural interpretation and artwork would be guided by iwi through the design process and form an integral part of the overall design.
The cost of the alternative proposal is not yet clear. So far $80,000 has been provided to provide preliminary designs for both projects, with a further $100,000 included in the draft Annual Plan for further detailed designs and consent.
Any funds for construction were expected to be submitted for inclusion in the 2021-31 Long Term Plan.
The proposal could also provide room for the establishment of a smaller Modellers Pond in the future.
Two iwi, Ngati Tama and Te A¯ tiawa, felt that out of respect for the Society of Modellers, space for a small pond could be included in the design.
Council officers believed a 400m2 pond would still require filtration and full water treatment, and estimated it would cost between $400,000-$450,000.
The Modellers Pond Working Party advised they would prefer a pond of at least 1000m2.
The working party, which is made up of members from the Tahunanui Modellers Society, Tahunanui Business Association and Council elected members, are still in support of the option to upgrade the pond itself.
The Nelson Society of Modellers will be speaking about the proposal during the public forum of the meeting.
At a council meeting earlier in June, property, parks and facilities asset manager Andrew Petheram said if a final decision was made on the upgrade proposal, it could take until 2022 for changes to be made. The cost of upgrading the pond could range between $1.1m and $3.3m, which would only be narrowed down once in the detailed design process, he said.
So far $80,000 has been provided to provide preliminary designs for both projects.