Media Release

Release date: 17 December 2014

Gisborne gears up

“Gisborne is happy to welcome R&V and BW festival goers’ to these iconic events every year,” says Mayor Meng Foon, speaking about the circa 20,000 revellers set to descend on the city between Boxing day and New Year’s day.

“This year we are more ready than ever, as Council has been working with the organisers to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable time here.”

‘Our best foot forward’ is the summer hosting policy that a Gisborne District Council project team begins planning as early as August.

In 2014 Council have sought to work smarter with event organisers by actively coordinating resources and services for all iconic and community events over the summer period.

“We have been regularly meeting with festival organisers and event organisers for our other community celebrations including free community New Year’s Eve Party YOLO and first day celebration, Walter Findlay Fire in the Sky, and in conjunction with events run by Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti and Tourism Eastland,” says planning and development group manager, Nedine Thatcher-Swann.

“We want the East Coast to be a desirable and thriving event destination.”

“Early planning has been successful in getting permits and consents completed early and on time, and general collaboration and communication across event organisers and council has been beneficial to everyone,” says Ms Thatcher-Swann.

Alcohol licenses were also a priority for the project team as the community is made more aware of changes to the Sale and Supply of Liquor Act 2011 and the new Local Alcohol Policy.

Earlier this year BW Summer Camping applied to license its main campground to enable better management of alcohol consumption and were granted license by the district licensing committee in October.

The campground reverted to the BYO status quo after campers voiced their disappointment with the proposed licensed operation.

Council have implemented a temporary liquor ban for beaches, roads and public reserves surrounding the campgrounds to further safeguard irresponsible drinking.

An extensive work programme to keep the city looking its finest is the second key component to the project.

A number of teams within council put together a coordinated effort including; emergency management, environmental health, regulatory services, parks & reserves, land transport and a number of contractors.

The work involves a range of maintenance and refreshments of public property in parks, beaches and the city centre, signage, footpaths and roads, and extra services for waste and street cleaning.

An additional caretaker is allocated to the city centre between 28 December and 5 January making sure bins do not overflow and litter is picked up in the CBD area daily between 8.30am – 5pm.

“Rubbish bin collections are as usual daily, but hot spot bins are checked during and at the end of the day,” says commercial operations manager, Matt Feisst.

Mayor Meng Foon says “we want to present an experience of a lifetime, that the memories made here might draw people to the city again in the future.”

“I wish all our local people and visitors to our district a safe holiday experience in Gisborne and the East Coast.”

ENDS

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