Over recent years, we have received feedback from football and rugby sporting codes expressing concern about the availability of quality playing fields to train on.

So, in May 2020, Council prepared a feasibility study on the development of an artificial turf. Council considered constructing the artificial turf through the last Long Term Plan in 2021, but decided not to proceed with it at that time. Instead, Council decided on a programme of work to upgrade the existing sports fields as the best approach to improving capacity.

We are now proposing to build an all-weather sports turf in 2025/26 and 2026/27 to support our football and rugby sporting codes. An all-weather sports turf would provide an alternative playing and training field for sports codes in wet conditions and help minimise disruption to playing seasons. It is likely to make Nelson a more attractive venue for sports tournaments.

Constructing an all-weather sports turf has an early estimated cost of $2.7 million (this figure is subject to change through further scoping, site selection and design work). The project would only proceed on the basis that sports codes fund 50% of the total construction costs (including the turf and lighting), commit to ongoing fees for use of the turf that would recover 10% of ongoing maintenance costs (estimated at about $36,000 per year) and cover the depreciation costs on the same basis as other similar facilities.

The codes would need to come up with their share of the construction funding prior to the project proceeding.

As this project provides additional capacity, Council will cover some of its share of the costs by rephasing and reallocating some existing capital budget earmarked for sports field improvements such as lighting and drainage

Retain our current approach

In the previous term of Council, it was decided to undertake an improvement programme on existing sports fields. This programme involved improving drainage and flood lighting at existing fields to enable increased use in wetter conditions and in evenings.

This option would require funding to upgrade the fields over time and additional ongoing maintenance costs, as capacity and use increases. It would also require the use of some fields currently reserved for competition to be available for training purposes.

Cost: $1.9 million across the ten years of the Long Term Plan.

Impact on rates: Total of $971,000 across the 10 years of the Long Term Plan.

Impact on debt: Total of $1.9 million raised in years one, two, five and eight of the Long Term Plan.

Construct an all-weather turf and reduce the current upgrade programme (Council’s proposal)

Our proposal is to construct an all-weather turf at an existing sports field (location still to be decided).

The main advantage of an all-weather turf is that it can be played on regardless of weather conditions and it provides a consistent playing surface. These advantages are likely to improve users’ satisfaction, which Council measures as a level of service for its parks.

The sports turf requires a new financial outlay – however, it provides the largest amount of capacity for any one upgraded sports field. We would still need to undertake improvements to the other existing fields in the future to further improve capacity and meet future demand.

This option’s disadvantages include a higher whole of life cost per hour of play, higher carbon emissions, more micro plastics and more waste than option 1. The turf generally only lasts for about 12 years and then needs replacing (although use of old turf for other purposes could be investigated).

Cost: $2.7 million capital expenditure spread across 2025/26 and 2026/27 (offset by 50% contribution from sports codes). $500,000 will also be offset by reallocating budget from the sports field improvements upgrade programme.

Impact on rates: Total of $1.9 million for all-weather turf and $789,000 for revised sports field improvements upgrade programme across the ten years of the Long Term Plan.

Impact on debt: $1.4 million debt for all-weather turf raised in years two and three of the Long Term Plan and $1.4 million debt for revised sports field improvements upgrade programme raised in years one, two, five and eight of the Long Term Plan.