Nelson City Council, in partnership with Tasman District Council, last week purchased 7.14 hectares of land in the centre of Saxton Field from RNZ. This is a significant milestone in the development of one of the best sports and recreation complexes in New Zealand.
RNZ acquired this land for its radio mast and transmission building, built in 1950. It has allowed, as Saxton Field has developed over the past 40 years, playing fields, carparking, roads, tree planting, lighting towers and the shaded playground to be built on it but we have not had secure tenure.
A decision to decommission the radio mast and sell the land was made in March last year as it was no longer needed with the changes in broadcasting technology. I took the earliest opportunity I could to put the case in Wellington to RNZ’s CEO for it not to be sold on the open market and for a negotiated sale to our two councils.
It has been a protracted negotiation. RNZ, Nelson City and Tasman District Councils are all under funding pressure. It was also difficult to value land zoned for open space and recreation. I commend NCC’s and RNZ’s CEOs Nigel Philpott and Paul Thompson and their staff on settling on a fair, pragmatic price of $1.512 million.
Saxton Field is managed by a joint committee of both Councils, ably chaired by Nelson City Councillor Campbell Rollo. Securing the purchase required a 50/50 sharing of ownership and cost. I commend the foresight of all Nelson and Tasman Councillors for backing this strategic space as public recreation reserve.
Tens of millions have been invested by both Councils and in community raised funds developing Saxton Field since the first 30ha of land was bought by Nelson City Council in 1977. Significant milestones were the netball pavilion in 1992, Saxton Stadium in 2009, Saxton Oval Pavilion in 2011 and the velodrome in 2018. There are now more than 40 playing fields.
Saxton Field and its facilities host thousands of sportspeople every week in more than a dozen different sports. It is what makes our region such an active and healthy place to live. This land purchase secures its future.
