Agenda of Hearings Panel - Other

Item 6: Temporary Road Closure Applications for New Year's Eve celebrations and the Weet-bix TRYathlon

Hearings Panel - Other

12 December 2017

REPORT R8692

Temporary Road Closure Applications for New Year's Eve celebrations and the Weet-bix TRYathlon

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To approve/decline the temporary road closure applications for the New Year’s Eve Countdown on 31 December 2017 and the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids TRYathlon on 4 March 2018.

2. Recommendation

That the Hearings Panel - Other

Receives the report Temporary Road Closure Applications for New Year's Eve celebrations and the Weet-bix TRYathlon (R8692) and its attachments (A1858501 and A1858871); and

Approves the application for the temporary road closures for the New Year’s Eve Countdown and Weet-Bix TRYathlon.

3. Background

3.1 It is a requirement that temporary road closures made under Schedule 10 Clause 11(e) of the Local Government Act 1974 come to the Hearings Panel - Other for approval.

4. Discussion

New Year’s Eve Countdown

4.1 On 31 October 2017, an application was received for the temporary road closure of Selwyn Place for the New Year’s Eve Countdown from 31 December 2017 until 1 January 2018.

4.2 This closure is detailed in Attachment 1 (the letter circulated to businesses).

4.3 The New Year’s Eve Countdown is a long-running Nelson fixture. No complaints have been received about this in recent years.

4.4 This is a Council-funded event.

4.5 Council officers placed an advertisement in the Nelson Mail on Saturday 4 November 2017 informing of the proposed closures and asking for written feedback by Tuesday 17 November 2017. (See attachment 1.) The organiser distributed this advertisement to directly affected properties and no feedback was received.

4.6 The event will be covered by Council’s Global Events Consent (RM115245) for noise.

4.7 The Police have approved of the closure.

4.8 Council officers are working with the applicant about the required Traffic Management Plan.

4.9 Council’s public liability insurance will cover this event.

4.10 Emergency access to all areas of the closed roads will be provided at all times.

4.11 Council officers recommend that this application be approved.

Kiwi Kids TRYathlon

4.12 On 2 November 2017, an application was received from SMC Events for the temporary road closures of Beach Road and Golf Road for the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon to be held on Sunday 4 March 2018. It is proposed that these roads be closed from 6 am until 12:30 pm.

4.13 The Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is a long-running Nelson fixture. It has annually been held on the same route as that proposed for 2018. No complaints have been received about this event in recent years.

4.14 This closure is detailed in Attachment 2 (the letter delivered to directly affected properties).

4.15 Council officers placed an advertisement in the Nelson Mail on Saturday 11 November 2017 informing of the proposed closures and asking for written feedback by Thursday 30 November 2017. (See Figure 3 of Attachment 1.) The organiser distributed this advertisement to adjoining properties on Sunday 12 November. No feedback was received.

4.16 As in past years, until 8:30 am on Saturday, businesses and residents will be permitted vehicular access to and from their properties. From 8:30 am until roads open at 12:30 pm, businesses and residents will only be permitted vehicular access from their properties while there are no cyclists on the route (which occurs at intervals not exceeding ten minutes).

4.17 There will be no amplified sound on road reserve, so no noise consent is necessary for the approval of this road closure application.

4.18 The Police have approved of the closure.

4.19 Council officers are working with the applicant about the required Traffic Management Plan.

4.20 The applicant has shown evidence of adequate public liability insurance.

4.21 Emergency access to all areas of the closed roads will be provided at all times.

4.22 Council officers recommend that this application be approved.

5. Options

5.1 The Hearings Panel has two options, either to approve or decline the road closure applications.

Melissa Ramsay

Roading Network Coordinator

Attachments

Attachment 1: New Years Eve Letter - A1858501 ⇩

Attachment 2: Weet-Bix TRYathlon Letter - A1858871 ⇩

Important considerations for decision making

1. Fit with Purpose of Local Government

· The Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 10, Temporary Prohibition of Traffic;

· The Local Government Act 2002, Clause 78, Community Views in Relation to Decisions.

2. Consistency with Community Outcomes and Council Policy

The recommendation is consistent with Council policy.

3. Risk

The risk associated with approving these closures is considered low as they comply the traffic management requirements of Council and the Police.

4. Financial impact

Costs are covered by annual operating budgets for road closures.

5. Degree of significance and level of engagement

This matter is of low to medium significance because of the small number or people affected and the short duration of the event. Therefore a request for feedback was advertised in the Nelson Mail, on the Council’s website and distributed to affected businesses for feedback.

6. Inclusion of Māori in the decision making process

Māori have not been consulted in this matter.

7. Delegations

The Hearings Panel - Other has the responsibility to consider and determine applications for temporary road closures made under Schedule 10 Clause 11(e) of the Local Government Act.