The most popular ideas for Marlborough’s annual plan

A goat cull, new pickleball courts and painting the blue poles black in central Blenheim are among ideas floated for the next annual plan.

The Marlborough District Council has taken feedback for its 2025-26 annual plan earlier than usual, partly to discourage funding requests as it is forecasting another double-figure rates rise.

A new system was launched in November, with an online portal that people could use to upload ideas, and vote on submitted ideas.

Engagement had been reasonably slow, although there were 89 submissions moderated by the council and posted to the online portal by the time it closed to submissions on Monday. Some people had submitted more than one idea.

Goat cull

A portal user who named themselves Goatcurry submitted one of the most highly-rated ideas, calling for the council to cull wild goats near built-up areas.

Goatcurry said mobs of goats could be seen grazing on the hills above Picton and Waikawa, and there was clear evidence they were destroying the undergrowth. Numerous slips could be seen.

“Marlborough District Council owns much of the public land around Picton and Waikawa. We need to ensure the annual plan allows for ongoing culls on MDC land adjacent to built-up areas.”

Another user also wrote a submission calling for a goat cull.

Cat bylaw

Another idea that drew multiple submissions was for the council to create a cat management plan.

One of those called for a bylaw that required all domestic cats to be chipped, neutered and registered, so that groups could target feral cats without the public fearing that cat control by conservation groups would harm a domestic cat.

“A robust cat management bylaw would be another way MDC could support conservation efforts.”

Bypass solution

Building a bridge over the Opāoa River southeast of Blenheim was one of the most highly rated ideas.

The council’s regional land transport plan 2024-34 showed it still wanted to explore the feasibility of a bridge over the Opāoa River, connecting Riverlands to Dillons Point Rd.

Off the back of that plan, a submitter said it was in the council’s best interest to create a “feeder road” that avoided central Blenheim.

“I believe the continuation of Vickerman Street could join on to existing roading infrastructure in the Malthouse Rd area.

“For these improvements, only 1.33km of road would need to be laid as well as a new bridge over the Opawa River [sic].

“This new road design will create a secondary feeder road that avoids central Blenheim.

“This is needed because of the increasing traffic on the roading network, created by excess urban development.”

Paint it black

One submitter said Blenheim's blue painted arches and railings “scream dated and tired 90s”.

“We could be classy like Havelock North, Cambridge, Mount Maunganui or Greytown,” the submission said.

“I suggest painting out all the tired blue and going for a glossy black like the pergoda in Market Street to frame the town and river as a classy and tourist worthy place to hang out and shop.”

Planting trees and native birds

One submitter said Marlborough should require a minimum 10% tree cover in its towns.

“Require urban developments to include tree planting and maintenance,” they said.

Another submitter said more native plants along central Blenheim’s Taylor River could attract native birds and bird-loving people.

Pickleball

The old tennis courts at Horton Park could be upgraded into outdoor pickleball courts, one submitter said.

“Pickleball is the fastest growing racquet sport in the world.”

People’s ideas would now be analysed and presented to the council’s budget meeting in April 2025.

The council planned to have a similar public engagement process for its 2027-37 LTP, but that would be followed by full public consultation. The engagement process for that was expected to start in November 2026.

The council’s annual plan could be viewed within its 2024-34 Long Term Plan on the council website.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.