Chris, Rachael and Sofia Hughes

Council staff put in a 19-hour shift, finishing at 3am on Thursday, to get the region’s management “masterplan” finalised in time for its big release later that day. After years in the making, the Marlborough Environment Plan was released at noon following a pōwhiri at Blenheim’s Omaka Marae. The plan brings three of the region’s major management plans into a single document. Council environment policy manager Pere Hawes says council staff worked late to format the final document. “It’s part of the job. I’ve been working so hard that I haven’t had time to pause and reflect on its release. “But there’s a sense of accomplishment.” He says the plan’s release was a “New Zealand first” as no other council had successfully combined their plans. The new plan fused together the Marlborough Regional Policy Statement, the Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan and the Wairau-Awatere Resource Management Plan. It is expected the new plan will save ratepayers money, as the council would only have to review one plan, instead of three, every few years. Marlborough Mayor John Leggett says Marlborough was the “first one to survive” the fusion. More than 1300 submissions were made on the plan. Councillor David Oddie, who sat on the plan’s panel, says the council had originally estimated hearings and deliberations would take two months. But in the end it took more than two years, he says. “It’s sucked up my thinking over the years. It’s made being a councillor hard to do. I always had a pile of reading to do.” Independent commissioner Ron Crosby says he now “had [his] life back”. “It’s been absolutely all-absorbing in terms of personal time.” Ron says he would celebrate by taking a one-week vacation with friends. Former councillor and panel chairman Trevor Hook says staff had spent about 10 years developing what was a “blueprint for the region”. “Today represents something really special,” he says. Independent commissioner Rawiri Faulker says he thought iwi and the wider community would be encouraged by the plan’s contents. “It’s a great starting point for what sustainability will look like in the future.” Marlborough Mayor John Leggett, left, ceremoniously accepts the Marlborough Environment Plan from panel chairman Trevor Hook. Photo: Chloe Ranford.

Fire danger closes hill tracks

The hot dry summer has forced the closure of most tracks in the Wither Hills Farm Park, including the Mountain Bike Park. Due to the ‘very high to extreme’ fire risk conditions within the park, walkers and runners are asked to stay on the lower tracks around the town boundary only, and not to venture up the gullies or ridge paths. Cyclists are asked to avoid the Mountain Bike Park as this area would be particularly dangerous in the event of a fire. Signs advising of the track closures are being installed at the Farm Park on Monday. The closure of these areas will apply at all times of the day.

The popular Wither Hills farm park has been forced to close most tracks due to the risk of fire in the area. Photo: Supplied.

or email paula@marlboroughmedia.co.nz