Battle line drawn by concert threat

By ALICE COWDREY - The Nelson Mail

A Hope resident says Nelson funeral director Francis Day has left the community feeling distressed after he told them of plans to hold concerts featuring "world class acts" such as Elton John at the Gardens of the World.

Mr Day has also offended some residents by erecting a high fence lined with barbed wire around the site, said Marg Hodson, who lives 200 metres from the gardens' entrance.

The comments come on the last day of a three-day resource consent hearing in which Mr Day is seeking permission to establish a crematorium, a 25-seat chapel and a memorial garden at the Hope site.

It is the second time Mr Day has sought consent for the development, after a larger proposal was turned down in July by the Tasman District Council.

Mrs Hodson said Mr Day told the community he had aspirations of running outdoor concerts, including a concert by Elton John.

The announcement was made flippantly and indicated a lack of respect and consideration towards those living in the "normally peaceful and quiet" neighbourhood.

"Mr Day advised a group of concerned residents at the outset that he could in fact have Elton John perform at the Gardens of the World every night if he wanted to," Mrs Hodson said. This comment was a cause of concern for those who had formed the Living in Hope group, she said.

"In a sense, this throw-away remark indicated to all those present that the battle lines had already been drawn.

"This complete show of arrogance was at the time, and continues to be, most disturbing."

Mrs Hodson said the erection of a high fence with barbed wire along the back boundary of the garden was akin to that of "a patched gang protecting their fortress".

She also doubted claims by Geoff Etherington, who established the gardens, that 25 functions were held at the site each year.

She said the gardens had limited patronage and was a "low-key" tourist attraction and not equipped to handle large crowds.

A recent funeral attended by 230 people had cars parked along Paton Rd in a "dangerous fashion".

One neighbour had been so distressed by the thought of the crematorium that they eventually moved out and put their house on the market.

Mrs Hodson suspected that the property did not sell because of the proposed development.

The Living in Hope group has lobbied hard against the proposals for the gardens, and has spent thousands in lawyer's fees. The group argues that Mr Day doesn't have consent to hold any sort of outdoor event.

The group's lawyer, Sally Gepp, said a consent granted to Mr Etherington in 1991, giving him permission to construct a reception centre for events, had lapsed.

The reception centre was never built.

In evidence given during the hearing, the applicant's resource management consultant Tony Quickfall said the resource consent was fully in effect, apart from the original reception centre.

He said many of the opposing submissions were based on an emotional response rather than "a rational effects-based response".

"A number of submissions in opposition appear to be based on misinformation."

His evidence also stated that noise effects would be minor and the rural character of the area would not be lost.

The development would not jeopardise the productive potential of the land, he said.

Tasman council resource consents adviser Jeremy Butler yesterday told the hearing that the applicant did not have time to give a verbal right of reply and would instead write one by next Friday.

The commissioner's written decision will be released 15 days after the reply is filed.