Stage set for outdoor concert

BY CHARLES ANDERSON

Last updated 15:00 09/02/2010

ON SONG: Technical director Antony Hodgson has plenty of space to work with for Saturday's Opera In The Park in the Tahunanui playing fields.

Relevant offers

Antony Hodgson has a lot on his plate. As technical director for this Saturday's BioPaints Opera in the Park at Tahunanui Recreation Ground, Mr Hodgson has been in charge of ensuring all logistical issues associated with holding a large-scale outdoor concert are taken care of.

"The biggest new one is traffic. We have had to put things in place in the past, but they have been chicken-feed compared to this week."

To help minimise congestion to the free concert, Mr Hodgson said there will be regular buses leaving from Nelson between 5.15pm and 6.45pm and Richmond between 5pm and 7pm.

"But anecdotally, I think many will just walk. If you have the legs for it, get walking, or biking."

Despite the plan, which will include traffic-light monitoring by the Nelson City Council, Mr Hodgson said it was inevitable there would be delays.

When the fireworks go off about 9.50pm, there will be others who might not enjoy the show as much as your average punter. Mr Hodgson has been in talks with nearby Natureland Zoo to minimise stress for the animals.

Natureland acting operations manager Chris Sutton said volunteers would work at the park that night to make sure the animals were comfortable, especially during the 13-minute fireworks display.

"The main thing is the stress on those animals with that noise. They aren't used to that sort of thing. They are used to the airport now, but this is something completely different."

However, it is new for the Nelson Airport as well. Chief executive Kaye Mcnabb said part of the runway would have to be closed because of the fireworks display, although it would likely affect only the air ambulance's flight path.

"We are working through the process, but I am a big Opera in the Park fan. I would hate to see the fireworks cancelled."

Event organisers are also employing a zero-waste policy, which means both the 24 vendors and more than 15,000 concert-goers will "pack in and pack out", with no rubbish bins or recycle bins being allocated. There will, however, be a compost bin. All vendors are required to hand out only compostable cups and plates. No bottles or cans will be sold, but water will be free.

Festival Producer Sophie Kelly said concert-goers were free to bring whatever they liked. She said the same idea was used at last year's concert and all that was left afterwards at Trafalgar Park was a single peach pip.

Ad Feedback

"For some, it might be a leap forward, but it is working really well. There are some glitches, but the majority are embracing it."

Mr Hodgson said he had a positive response to a letter drop around the concert area last week, with minimal grumbles from local residents.

"We are hoping it can really be a good Tahuna experience. People on the hills will have an amazing view and will be able to hear it, but ideally, they will want to come down."

- © Fairfax NZ News