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In a rare move, Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson sent a strongly worded letter to the owner of Gulf Harbour Country Club stating the importance to the community of the encumbrance protecting that land as a golf course and country club for 999 years.
At this stage owner Long River Investments has not applied to alter or remove that encumbrance in order to develop its site.
Wilson’s letter, dated July 12, told Long River Investments that while council will follow due process if any application is made, “the purpose for which the encumbrance was entered into will be relevant, as will the interests of the broader community…”
Wilson told the paper last week that council undertakes its regulatory role in good faith when it comes to things like resource consents and plan changes.
“But we also have a role as a named party to the encumbrance and have to act as a leader in the interests of the wider community,” he said.
He said he is aware that there are differing views in the community about what should happen with the country club land.
“We can all see the need for clarity about that space and its future use. I am hopeful in the long term that we can find that certainty for the community. With intensification, the balance of green space is important.”
Lobby group Keep Whangaparāoa’s Green Spaces (KWGS) has been seeking assurances about the encumbrance from council since the country club was bought by developer Greg Olliver three years ago.
Spokesperson Howard Baldwin says they were pleased about the letter – “but at the end of the day, the property is still in private ownership”.
He says KWGS’ current focus is to make Ministers aware of the issues, in case Long River Investments seeks consent to develop the site through government’s proposed fast track legislation.
He describes Wilson’s letter as “a line in the sand”.
“The ball is in Long River’s court as to what they do next,” he says. “If all their attempts to get the land developed are frustrated, they may walk away.”
As the paper went to print, council had not had a response from Long River Investments.
Show us the money
The chief executive’s letter also stated that council needs to be reimbursed for the $200,000 plus that it paid to demolish the unsafe country club buildings following suspicious fires in May. Wilson said that the first step is to invoice Long River Investments, once all the costs are known, and if that proves fruitless, repayment will be vigorously pursued. Because the work was carried out under The Building Act, the debt can be placed as a charge on the property’s title (HM June 3). In May Long River Investments narrowly avoided being put into liquidation by the Auckland High Court – the debt in question was $20,000.
Meanwhile disturbances continue at the site, although not on the scale of the arson and vandalism seen previously. On Friday, July 19 the Manly Volunteer Fire Brigade quickly extinguished a small rubbish fire that was burning outside the greenkeeper’s shed. Fire chief Craig McDonald says there was no danger to any property. That weekend, on July 21, police were advised that a person had thrown an object at a vehicle. “One party has since been spoken to,” police say. “No injuries or damage were reported.” Police are conducting follow up enquiries into the incident.
