Gondola Feedback

Qualitative

Please provide a summary of the comments in relation to a gondola. Include any novel suggestions or ideas from the comments on a gondola.

15 comments were used to answer the question "Please provide a summary of the comments in relation to a gondola. Include any novel suggestions or ideas from the comments on a gondola.".

Response

Based on the analysis of the comments provided by residents in response to the issue of mountain biking and related infrastructure in Nelson, a significant interest in the development of a gondola system on Fringe Hill has been expressed. Out of the comments reviewed, several residents highlighted the potential benefits of a gondola, emphasizing its role in boosting tourism, enhancing the local economy, and improving access to mountain biking trails.

Key points from the comments include:

  1. Economic Impact: Many commenters believe that a gondola could significantly increase mountain bike tourism, which in turn would boost the local economy. Comparisons were made with other mountain biking destinations such as Queenstown and Rotorua, suggesting that Nelson could achieve similar or greater economic benefits.

  2. Long-term Access and Development: Residents expressed a desire for the council to secure long-term access to land for mountain biking trails, which would be complemented by the installation of a gondola. This would not only preserve but also enhance the mountain biking experience in Nelson.

  3. Community and Health Benefits: Comments also touched on the social and health benefits of mountain biking, which a gondola could support by making trails more accessible to a wider range of people, including those with varying levels of ability.

  4. Novel Suggestions: Some novel ideas related to the gondola included creating direct job opportunities and integrating the gondola with other local attractions to create a comprehensive tourist experience. There was also a suggestion to link the gondola with existing trails and to develop new trails that cater to all skill levels, from beginners to those seeking challenging rides.

In summary, the community feedback strongly supports the idea of developing a gondola on Fringe Hill as a strategic move to enhance Nelson’s appeal as a premier mountain biking destination, with potential significant economic and social benefits. The council is encouraged to consider these insights as part of their planning and development strategy.

Query

The query further filters the submissions:

Comment.str.contains('gondola', case=False)

Comments

Point ID Name Option_Selected Comment
694.6 Lavana Ramsteijn None I think the Council needs to look at what land they own and can possibly buy from Ngati Koata to enable NCC and NMtBC to create an amazing Biking mecca in Nelson. We have some amazing tracks close to the city, but long term access to the land needs to be negotiated and agreed on as a priority. 
It would be good if Council could purchase the land from Koata Ltd that is attached to the main Codges riding area. This is the hill block that is boarded by the Brook and the Maitai Rivers / Golf Course. It would be good to have continue access to tracks like Hulk'n'hogen, Turners, Firball, the new jump tracks, Divas, Hot box etc.. 
Negotiating with Koata Ltd for guaranteed long term access to Sharlands (Hira forest) would also be amazing!! I was on the phone to my insurance company 2 days ago, and the person I was talking to said they were looking at moving to Nelson (from Auckland) purely for the Mountain biking in our region. We have so much to offer, and so many people that travel here for riding and racing, I think it is really important to prioritize this sport and to sort out the access issue to the land / tracks for this. 
Also if the Council is in the position to buy the full hill access from Brook st to 3rd house, so that the full Fringe hill and Coopermine trail is in Council control, that would be a good strategic move going forward as well. lots of people use the Coppermine for recreation - walking / running/ biking / tramping. This would open up opportunities for new tracks to be built on this hill face, and for shuttle roads or gondola access in the future. Nelson has much better (= bigger and steeper) hills than Christchurch or Rotorua, and Gondola access here could leave us with better tracks than Queenstown!! 
refer to the NMTC for more info on the visitors, jobs and money that biking brings to our region. :)
206.13 Joshua Bristow None The council should negotiate a long-term plan for mountain bike access with Ngati Koata, these discussions have been going on for a longtime and should be finalized as this is an important issue as these trails are highly valued and used extensively by the local community and tourists. Mountain biking in Nelson is world-class and adds significantly to the local economy estimated at $49 million.
 Along with this issue and the approach to forestry I believe the council should assist, provide more support or become a shareholder for the gondola that was proposed to run on Fringe Hill. A project like this could significantly impact Nelson and would be a big draw to increase mountain bike tourism to the region, this could be the revitalization Nelson center town needs with increased spending and stays from visitors. Similar mountain bike towns in New Zealand gain significantly more from this tourism than Nelson, the value of spending in Queenstown was $157.6 million in 2021 and projected to increase to $209.8 million after Covid, Rotorua also benefited from $139.8 million in 2022. Both are significantly higher than the estimated benefit to Nelson.
 
The project would also be significantly cheaper, at around $20 million, than other proposed projects by the council with more benefits. The councils proposed $90 million community hub for example would create few long term jobs and provide no benefit to the economy. A gondola would create a significant amount of direct jobs and indirect and could be the boost Nelson need, with mountain biking becoming ever more popular and the potential to add tens of millions of dollars to the economy every year.
 
Refer attachments
1387.5 Cameron Treeby None I would like NCC to fianlise a long-term access plan with Ngati Koata for access to MTB trails. Nelson is and has the potential to become a workd calss mountain bike destination. This was one of the key reasons I moved my family here in 2018. There are not many places in the world with access like this, all within a short drive of each other. I see videos on youtube of top mountain bikers in the northern hemisphere winters coming to NZ, visiting Queenstown and then Nelson. With the right development this will grow and grow, bringing jobs and tourist spend to Nelson. MTBing is a very inclusive sport, bringing people together of all ages and abilities, connecting with the natural enviroment and getting much needs exercise. A feature like a gondola to the top of Fringe Hill would be a massive draw card for tourism. I appeciate a lot of the infrasture being built, including delevlopment of learn trails to for people to learn on. The real magic is when your skills improve and you can get out further into the more remote trails in the Ngati Koata areas, the pine forrest and native bush. Without access to these, Nelson would be half the destination it is. So I appreciate and thank Ngati Koata for the access we have at the moment, and want the council to secure a longterm access to these. Thank you for taking the time to consider my views. Cameron Treeby.
567.2 Angela Sargeant None Mountain Biking is a large part of our family life.  We do it for health, happiness and mental well being.  We are involved with the Nelson Mountain Bike club and understand that land access on Ngati Koata whenua is vital for mountain biking in Nelson to continue as is.
I urge NCC to work with iwi and the club to secure a long term agreement to secure our mountain bike network.
Mountain bikers in Nelson are young, and not so young environmental conscious people, who thrive on being healthy and fit and getting into the outdoors.  Without these people Nelson and Tasman will become a giant rest home for the elderly and sedentary.   
Nelson is a bit of a hidden gem in terms of mountain biking and could become more like Rotorua and Queenstown with the help of a gondola to the top of fringe hill.
892.10 david Mason None Nelson is an international destination for mountain biking recognised by IMBA as GOLD standard because of it's trails. I moved here because of the great cycling 15 months ago.Cycling is huge for the local economy, we have had 3 groups of visitors in the last 6 month purely to cycle in the Nelson region.
To do this we need Long-term access to Ngāti Koata forests where the trails are (or more can be built)without this enthusiasts would leave & visitors would not come!
We could  build a Gondola/lift access for toursist & MTB once this access is secured which would rival anything else in NZ, it would be HUGE!
Links to the Taste trail from the forests is also vital as are improving the existing cycle ways but this can not happen until a Long Term plan is secured
to access the forest & trails.
1409.9 Taylor Brooker None For the thousands of locals and visitors like myself who enjoy the amazing mountain bike trails in the Nelson area, I urge you as council to please secure long term access to Ngāti Koata whenua land. To lose 80% of our trails would be hugely disappointing. If long term access is not secured I would imagine that far fewer visitors would come to nelson, because there would simply be nothing exciting worth riding. Not to mention the $49m that is bought into local economy from mountain biking. Once long term access is secured I also suggest that the fringed hill gondola be revisited. Myself and many people I know have discussed how great the gondola would be for bringing in many more mountain bikers and sightseers into the region, plus the massive boost to local economy.
453.10 Jeffrey Chandler None As a keen mountain biker and club member,  I would like to see council keep pushing for continued access to land , so everyone can  enjoy the beautiful track network we have in Nelson.
Also push to get the gondola to goahead, which would really boost Nelsons reputation as a destination.
On a recent visit to Queenstown, this reinforced the need for a gondola in beautiful Nelson. The amount of people and mountain bikers, using the gondola,was generating so much to the local economy. 

The Mtb tracks in Nelson give so many people exercise, mental well being, and comradship.
Thanks
268.9 Ed Tappenden None mountain biking is extremely popular here in Nelson and is a tourist attraction in its own right. Our mountain biking tracks are world class and many businesses in Nelson are able to succeed because of the great riding here. As well as securing access to the land for the future needs of the community I propose that the council investigate the possibility of having a gondola installed in the same way that Rotorua and Queenstown have. Also i would like to see development of facilities in the Brook for bikers, better shelter, cafes, bike shops etc as there is in Rotorua.
206.11 Joshua Bristow None The project would also be significantly cheaper, at around $20 million, than other proposed projects by the council with more benefits. The councils proposed $90 million community hub for example would create few long term jobs and provide no benefit to the economy. A gondola would create a significant amount of direct jobs and indirect and could be the boost Nelson need, with mountain biking becoming ever more popular and the potential to add tens of millions of dollars to the economy every year.
262.2 Neil Cowan None i would like the coucil to support and grow the mountain bike scene n Nelson. We need to be better than Rotorua and erect a gondola up fringed hill with focus on builiding world class runs for all users, beginers to challenging black diamond runs.
1318.10 Matt Rigg None work with land owners and investors to ensure nelson gets its gondola up fringe make nelson a destination not a place to visit mountain biking is so essential for tourism and local businesses build it and the people will come
1318.11 Matt Rigg None work with land owners and investors to ensure nelson gets its gondola up fringe make nelson a destination not a place to visit mountain biking is so essential for tourism and local businesses build it and the people will come
258.2 Jacob Griffin None we need to extend the long term plan with full access as this is the only reason I live here. 
also the gondola up fringe would be sick this would bring in so much tourism
266.3 Thomas Guthrie Option two Increase trail network. Encourage gondola and biking trails
266.9 Thomas Guthrie None Increase trail network. Encourage gondola and biking trails