Peak visitor centre axed over financial-liability fears

AGONISING DECISION: Bruno Chambers said it had been incredibly hard to pull the pin after all the considerable time, effort and enthusiasm that went in.

A $4.3 million Te Mata Peak visitor centre has been scrapped, after an independent review warned the proposed project would be a "major financial liability".

The decision to halt plans for the visitor and education centre, for which $3.3 million had already been raised, was "incredibly tough", Te Mata Park Trust chairman Bruno Chambers said.

"So much time, effort and enthusiasm has been invested from across the community, not to mention an amazing amount of funds, with $3.3 million raised. It's been hard to get this far, and even harder to now decide not to go ahead," he said.

The decision follows an independent review of the project by TRC Tourism's Dave Bamford, whom the trust commissioned to examine the project's long-term sustainability.

Mr Bamford's report found the centre would be a "major financial liability" to the trust: "While the park certainly deserves additional resources and facilities, we found that the proposed project presented significant risks for the trust in the long term."

The report recommended that the board scrap the project and instead develop a park-management plan with local-government partners.

The board met last month and voted to accept the report's recommendations.

The Te Mata Peak Visitor and Education Centre project had established momentum in the seven years since it was conceived.

It had secured commitments from all three local councils, gaining resource consent, and raising $3.3 million. The trust had invested $320,000 in the project, which included early seed-funding from the Hastings District Council and the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

"This is a large amount of money for a small charitable trust to have spent, along with the thousands of hours of volunteer time also invested, it's a bit of a bitter pill to swallow," Mr Chambers said. "However, the trust has been able to meet these costs and nothing further will be spent on the project."

The trust would also be speaking to all donors who made contributions, totalling about $175,000.

"All will have the opportunity to be released from their commitments, but the trust hopes that the majority will continue to support the park and a revised plan for development."

In response to the trust's decision, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said: "This is a tough but courageous decision by the Te Mata Park Trust. It's not easy to call a halt to a big project when it has got this far down the track.

"The council is pleased that the trust has had the discipline to get expert external advice, and the humility to accept it."

Mr Chambers said the park was "undeniably in need of new facilities".

It was under pressure due to a number of factors including a substantial increase in users and a lack of amenities.

Mr Chambers said there was "still a strong case for the development of facilities within the park," as well as "more proactive management of the physical environment".

The trust would now develop a management plan for the next 10 years with support from the Hastings District Council, Hawke's Bay Regional Council and Napier City Council.

There were messages of support for the board's decision when it was announced on Facebook yesterday.

"A bold, brave move. Sad to hear it, of course, but I can only imagine the deliberations that lead to making it. I look forward to seeing what lies ahead," said Jamie Macphail.

"We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful part of the world right on our doorstep. Te Mata peak does require improvements to amenities but to see all due diligence done is fantastic," said Amanda Waugh.

But not everyone was pleased with the announcement.

Julie Thompson said: "This type of public development does not provide immediate rates for the council but remains a longer-term investment that is difficult to quantify.

"Highlighting the ecoservices, tourism and educational infrastructural value was never going to be easy to argue. The park belongs to everyone and nimbyism prevailed."

Te Mata Park was gifted in perpetuity to the community in 1927 by the Chambers family. The 99.5ha park is managed by a small group of volunteers under the Te Mata Park Trust.