Park fate in hands of people

Chris Gardner
The proposal to extend Hastings' central commercial area by 20 hectares has been approved by a trio of independent hearings commissioners, but whether Nelson Park remains at its heart still remains in the hands of Hastings' people.
In a decision released today out-of-town commissioners Doug Arcus, Peter Crawford, and Alan Watson allowed a partial rezoning saying it gave the best strategy for the sustainable development of the commercial centre into the future.
The mega centre zoning, which includes replacing the park with large format retail stores, hinges on a binding public referendum promised by Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule.
If the referendum, which will be held in the New Year, favours replacing the park the commissioners will require its replacement with a new facility and at least $3 million spent on new green space within the central city.
The commissioners also increased the minium retail space to 1000sq metres, modifying the plan change which had sought a minimum of 500sq metres for 20 percent of the retail space.
Nelson Park Action Group founder Ann Dixon, who has led the battle against the council for two years, said she and fellow members would meet in the coming days to discuss their position.
"It could be that the group will accept that the referendum can decide it," Mrs Dixon said.
She did not know whether an appeal to the Environment Court, which has to be lodged within 30 working days, was on the group's agenda.
"There's no point in the Nelson Park Action Group rushing off to the Environment Court if that is not what the people want."
Fellow campaigner Gordon Vogtherr was pleased that the final decision would rest with the people. "I would have liked them to have said no," he said.
Mr Vogtherr was concerned that the wording of the referendum might be ambiguous, since Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule has already barred the action group from input into the question.
Andy Lowe and brothers Jonathan and David Brownrigg of the Expressway Group, which has plans for an alternative large format retail centre on the Hawke's Bay Expressway halfway between Napier and Hastings, released a statement which said the commissioners had not made the right decision for the region.
"At least the council has promised that the community will get its say on whether Nelson Park is developed into LFR or remains a park and sports facility," the statement said. "It's now important that the public gets to make an informed decision based on information that is not misleading.
"The process has to be on a level playing field and it will be interesting to see whether the referendum question is framed in such a way as not to lead the community to the decision the council wants."
Mr Yule said: "The council's intention from the outset was to develop a plan which would ensure the district could accommodate future commercial development without compromising that of the existing central area. "Today's decision clearly signals the commissioners are satisfied with the retail strategy and their deferral of the mega centre development sits comfortably with us because that decision was always going to be made by the people of Hastings.
"A replacement athletics track and sports complex has been a fundamental part of the equation from the outset," he said.