A group of Golden Bay locals is fighting to save its historic roofed grandstand - which the council plans to demolish to make room for a carpark.
The barrel vaulted roofed stand is one of just two of its kind left in the country - it was built in 1899.
Takaka based author Gerard Hindmarsh is one of those trying to save the grandstand.
The Tasman District Council has given us this statement on the grandstand
The Council has been working with local community representatives to provide a new community recreation facility in Golden Bay for approximately seven years.
Whenever the Golden Bay Community Recreation Facility is discussed it is always as a complete development - the building, the netball courts and the car parking required for those using the amenity and the associated sports fields. The development has a limited amount of land in which to provide this community amenity.
The community representatives and the Council have consulted on the plans for the new development on several occasions over the years. The proposed plans have always shown the grandstand would not be retained.
The fate of the grandstand will soon be in the hands on Heritage NZ. While it is not on any heritage lists, because it may have been built prior to 1900 they have jurisdiction (Sec 42 Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014). Its date of construction will be part of their determination as will its heritage value in its current state.
If its determined the grandstand has to stay or has to be moved somewhere else, then the Council will actively work with the Save The Grandstand group or anyone else to achieve that.
There was a meeting between Save The Grandstand (STG) and council representatives in Takaka on 28th June where it was agreed that the parties would respect the differences of opinion and now focus on the issues ahead rather than the past. The Council is committed to that agreement.
