Nelson waterfront draft masterplan open for public feedback, with first construction no earlier than 2028

HouGarden New Zealand, 29 September — The draft masterplan was released on Tuesday, nearly a decade after a 2016 redevelopment proposal for the same area was put on hold. Public feedback opens later this week and runs until early November. The council will finalise the plan after that process concludes, with the earliest possible start for first-stage construction in 2028.

The section of Haven Road from Port Nelson toward Tāhunanui Beach, along Wakefield Quay, currently contains several vacant buildings and only a small number of cafes and restaurants. The draft proposes improved connections between the city centre and the sea, repurposing of long-empty buildings, a shared walking and cycling pathway positioned closer to the waterfront, additional car parking, and better water access.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said outdoor recreation was 'in the DNA of Nelsonians' and described the waterfront's potential in strong terms. 'Nelson has one of the most gorgeous waterfronts of anywhere in the world but it's crying out for redevelopment,' he said.

One centrepiece proposal in the draft involves an old council electricity building. Smith said the intention was to retain the historic structure while demolishing a later extension. 'The intention is to keep the historic parts of the electricity building but to demolish the extension and with a roof over it, create a sheltered place, a place for new hospitality that would sell coffees and ice creams and create effectively a new swimming and recreation area for Nelsonians,' he said. The proposal would add steps directly into the sea.

The draft also identifies the vacant Anchor Shipping and Foundry Co building and the Custom House building as opportunities for commercial activation. Smith said the council would favour uses that brought life to the area. 'Council would be most attracted to options that helped activate the area, they might be accommodation, they might be tourism, they might be related to our ocean and seafood industries,' he said.

Tāhunanui Business and Citizens Association chair Jacinda Stevenson welcomed the renewed push but said the area had waited a long time. 'Since I've been involved it's been decades, it's been at least 20 years and it's been a political football unfortunately and I think that's been to the detriment of both to Tāhunanui and Nelson people, residents and also visitors to the area, because we all know how wonderful it could be and that opportunity hasn't been taken,' she said.

Stevenson said past discussions had included ideas such as an aquarium, a saltwater pool, and a maritime museum recognising the region's seafaring history. She said funding and partnership would be key. 'We have got the climate and we have got everything there, we just need the willingness and maybe some investment from locals as well as council and NZTA, it could be a joint partnership,' she said.

Stevenson also raised pedestrian safety along the state highway that runs through the corridor, saying it was difficult to cross the road in some places. The association wants additional crossing points and a footpath wide enough for people with prams or mobility scooters to pass each other. 'I think it's really exciting what the council are proposing down the other end, we just want it connecting further through,' she said.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said it recognised concerns about truck volumes, vehicle speeds, and the safety of people walking and cycling along or across the highway. NZTA noted it had previously installed pedestrian refuges on the state highway and said it would continue to work with the council as investigations into improved pedestrian thoroughfares progressed as part of the Wakefield Quay revitalisation project. NZTA's involvement in the broader masterplan is limited to those highway-safety matters.

Nelson resident Belinda Reburn said she wanted a stronger link between Tāhunanui Beach and the city centre. 'We should have a waterfront we could close off for a fireworks display and markets and things like that, that would be the boldest of decisions, but connecting Tāhunanui and having people come to Nelson and spend another day because there is a waterfront that is enjoyable to walk along, businesses and cafes along Rocks Road, there are some amazing things that could happen,' she said.

Nelson City councillor Sarah Kerby said the council was particularly keen to hear from young people during the consultation period. 'We didn't hear from many rangatahi in our Civic Hub submissions and this is a space that should be theirs,' she said. Kerby described her own experience of the current waterfront as falling well short of its potential. 'I brought my son out recently on his scooter, we walked along the waterfront and it was awful. You're right close to the traffic, there's nowhere to get a can of drink. I'd love to be walking down here with my son, holding a coffee, just watching everyone else on a Saturday morning,' she said.

The public consultation window on the draft masterplan closes in early November. The council will then work to finalise the plan before any construction decisions are made. Under the current timeline, no building work is expected to begin before 2028.