Double-decker beach bus reinstated
Nelson City Council had retired the Summer Beach Bus due to financial constraints but the Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park and Nelson Coachlines have revived the service. Photo: supplied.
The wheels on the Tāhuna Summer Beach Bus will continue to roll round and round now that the service has been reinstated.
The popular summertime service had operated thanks to a $16,000 grant from Nelson City Council (NCC) over the past six years, however financial constraints led the council to announce last week that the service would be retired.
The council highlighted that the expanded eBus service – which provides 94 trips a day between Nelson and Tāhunanui – allows easier-than-ever travel for residents to the beach, reducing the need for the more expensive double-decker service.
However, the move was unpopular with many Nelsonians with many calling the decision “disappointing” and a “backward step”.
Resident Hannah Sangster started a petition which, as of 2:30pm on Wednesday, has received 540 signatures to keep the summer beach bus service.
The petitioners will now doubtless be excited to hear that the service is being reinstated by the Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park and Nelson Coachlines.
“We were really sorry when NCC notified us of the grant discontinuing,” said Holiday Park chief executive David Pattinson.
“We’re aware of the uphill financial battle council is facing in the wake of the flooding, so we weren’t overly surprised. Nevertheless, the double-decker bus is more an attraction than a means of transport, and we know from our stats that thousands use it every summer – both visitors to the region and the local community.”
In the past, the Holiday Park was a financial partner in the bus service, but the lack of a renewed council grant spelled the demise of the service ahead of the upcoming summer.
But after seeing the outpouring of community support for the double-decker, David says the Holiday Park and Nelson Coachlines have partnered together and decided to keep the service going despite the financial loss.
Uniquely Nelson has also aided the two organisations with a financial contribution for the service which carries many of the Holiday Park's guests into the central city.
“We hope people continue to enjoy this charming attraction. If we get good numbers, it makes next year’s decision easier," David says.
The service will run for two weeks less than usual to make it more economically viable, from 27 Dec to 20 Jan, 7 days a week from 10am to 4.30pm, between the Holiday Park, a stop at Tāhunanui Beach and the city via Rocks Road.