Nelson City Council

Saxton Field plans call for a recreation facility featuring a broad range of activities:

The development of Saxton Field follows a vision as ‘Sport in the Park’.

Latest additions to Saxton Field

Hockey and softball pavilion

The new $2 million Saxton Field Hockey and Softball Pavilion opened in November 2010. The project came in under budget. Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council provided 63% of the funding for the building (split 60/40% between the Council’s under the Regional Facilities funding agreement) and the Hockey and Softball Associations provided the 37% balance.

The new two-storey facility, which includes a lounge and bar, two offices, two meeting rooms, changing facilities and toilets, viewing decks for softball, and a viewing window from the lounge and bar.

Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, Hockey and Softball Associations extend sincere thanks to all sponsors, in particular the major sponsors: Nelson Pine Industries, Sprig and Fern Taverns, GJ Gardner Homes and the Canterbury Community Trust.

Did you know?

Nelson hockey got its first artificial turf field in 1993, and in 2006 the second water surface was laid. Hockey has approximately 900 registered players of all ages.  Nelson softball has approximately 600 registered players and has four all-weather diamonds at Saxton Field. Both associations host annual tournaments and the new pavilion will help attract top national events.

Cricket, athletics and football pavilion

The Cricket, athletics and football pavilion is going to receive a $400,000 grant from the Lottery Community Facilities Funding. The amount will be applied towards the $3.8 million construction costs of the new cricket, athletics and football facility. The grant is conditional on the Saxton Field Pavilion Charitable Trust contributing towards the costs. Council continues to support the Trust continuing work to raise funds for the construction costs through a sponsorship naming rights arrangement.

The new pavilion will be located to provide changing facilities and viewing areas over the athletics track, soccer pitch and cricket oval. In combination with the existing cricket oval, utility building and practice wicket the pavilion will meet New Zealand Cricket Warrant of Fitness Guidelines for all first class cricket matches. The pavilion has also been designed so that it meets New Zealand athletics requirements for meetings. The requirements of soccer for National League competitions are also met.

The build is likely to take six months, with the facility being open by September 2011.

The pavilion will also be available for other events and for use as a meeting facility for local community groups and residents.

Saxton Stadium

Find out  more about the Saxton Stadium.

Cricket Oval

The cricket oval is finished and in use by some senior clubs. The Cricket Association reports they are happy with the playing surface, with the ground being prepared to international standards. The wicket was constructed of special clay from Waikari in North Canterbury that is renowned for its true and consistent bounce.

The next stage is to add a maintenance shed suitable as a support facility for outdoor concerts. The addition of a shared cricket, athletics and soccer pavilion with changing facilities will follow with funding provided in 2009/10.

It’ll be green

The long-term plan is for Saxton Field to become the major regional outdoor sports venue - it’s ideally located, close to the city and to the growth areas of Stoke, Richmond and the Waimeas.

The concept is for a large green space, rather like Hagley Park in Christchurch. Saxton Field will be the regional base for sports such as athletics, hockey, netball and cricket, and will have approximately 40 playing fields for cricket, kiwi cricket, soccer, softball, netball, hockey and archery.

Picnics and play

You don’t have to be a sports jock to enjoy Saxton Field! This proposal provides for more ‘passive’ or less formal enjoyment, with small playgrounds dotted around the park, as well as a larger playground that is intended to be a regional attraction (like the Lions Playground at Tahunanui).

There will be a pond that could be used by modellers, with a picnic and play area alongside it. Around the whole complex, there will be a layout of walkways, a fitness circuit, and paths for roller-bladers.

Looking back

The first parcel of land at Saxton Field was bought by the Nelson City Council in 1977. In 1983, work started on the first sports facility and the site was planted up with trees and shrubs. There is a buffer of native trees along the main road and deciduous, trees including oaks and liquidambers, around the field. Read more about the history of Saxton Field.

Landscaping

Avenues of trees framing sports grounds, and lining walks, roads and cycle-ways .
Large trees creating a ‘village green’ around the cricket pavilion and oval . .
Sports fields with shady oaks providing shelter around their boundaries . . .
Councils are aiming at a botanical type environment with big drifts of trees framing the sports grounds and views into the reserve. The planting theme of the Raine farm next door, which creates a backdrop of oaks and redwoods, some dating from the 1800s, will continue. The lake and Saxton Creek will become features, with the plans for the creek inspired by the water lilies and irises of Monet’s famous garden in France.

Keeping it flexible

Another aim with the landscaping is to limit the use of barriers to keep the open feel and to consolidate or share the buildings so they have a minimal environmental impact. The majority of the grounds are designed for multiple use - for example some of the netball courts can be converted for tennis in summer; the proposed netball stadium could also be used by basketball and volleyball; the internal roadways can be used for speed skating or cycling and the passive areas lend themselves to cross country running.

Sports codes have been asked to try and predict their future growth, but some playing areas have been left un-designated for particular codes, to retain flexibility for future use. There are some codes not considered for Saxton Field, as their needs are being met elsewhere - these include rugby league and union, and horse riding.

Code Call

Some of the key points following consultation on the current and future needs of the main codes and their preferences as to layout:

Netball

The largest female participation sport in the region is under pressure - four more courts and a three court indoor centre are needed.

Softball

Two further all-weather softball diamonds will be built in 2009, making a total of four senior skin diamonds.

Soccer

A minimum of 12 fields are needed to host a national tournament. The main area will be where the radio mast is now.

Hockey

Two artificial turf fields are in place, with spectator and changing facilities between the two fields (to be shared with softball) about to be constructed.

Athletics

A stadium with a 400m track and internal area for field events and football has recently been constructed. A photo finish facility is planned for construction by Athletics.

Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about the future of Saxton Field you can see a full copy of the Final Plan and Report, and the map, at any of the Tasman or Nelson libraries or Council offices.

Download the Saxton Field Final Plan & Report (PDF @ 700K) (622KB PDF)

Download the Saxton Field Final Plan map (PDF @ 210K) (200KB PDF)

Any queries regarding the plan should be directed to Community Policy and Planning Adviser, Nelson City Council, ph 546 0200 or Beryl Wilkes, Tasman District Council, ph 544 8176.