Nelson Weekly
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Tuesday 22 July 2014
Nelson
2014
Page 8
Nelson Symphony Orchestra
Energy Centre closed
Founders Park has received a big blow, with its largest function room now closed, due to its risk to occupants in an earthquake. But the good news, is that work to strengthen it will only take two months. The Energy Centre hosts several major events in Nelson, including the recently finished Founders Book Fair, Marchfest and it is also used during the Nelson Arts Festival. Confirmation of the closure was made late yesterday afternoon by Nelson City Council chief executive Clare Hadley and is another blow to event organisers in the region. It joins the Trafalgar Centre as a major function venue closed due to its risk in the event of a major earthquake. The Nelson Hospitality Awards is one of three functions that has already been told it will have to find a new venue because of the
Andrew Board Editor
andrew@nelsonweekly.co.nz
closure. Its organisers are expecting around 350 people and said the closure has “created a big problem”. “Because of the numbers, it creates a headache. There are only a handful of venues that can cater for 200-plus people and it’s now incredibly short notice for us. We had already ordered our tickets, hired tables and seats and picked out decorations. So it’s not ideal,” says one of the event’s organisers. Clare says the cost to bring the Energy Centre up to earthquake standard isn’t high, but a report noting the closure will be presented at the council’s works and infrastructure committee meeting this Thursday. She says the building will be open before the Nelson Arts Festival in October.
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Waimea win Div 1 rugby Hospitality Awards championship Page 14-15
Page 23
Nelson snowboarder Sam Jones makes the most of the snow at Rainbow Ski Area over the weekend. Photo: Alicia Burrow.
No day like a snow day It was a bluebird day at the More FM Rainbow Family Snow Day over the weekend. Delighted children gathered around the games tent for snow bulls-eye, a lolly scramble, sledding, and tug of war games at Rainbow Ski Area. The weather also made for optimal snow machine conditions, and vice chair of the ski area, Hamish Neill, says punters enjoyed the most man made snow ever created there due to the combination of cold nights and fine days.
“A bonus, because it’s more durable than natural snow and as a result more people come up.” He says the remainder of winter is also looking good weather wise and the timing couldn’t be better as it coincides with Rainbow Sports Club’s 10th year celebration of owning and operating Rainbow Ski Area. The next event to look forward to is the Summit Batty Rainbow Club Champs on August 9.
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