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Following the recent demolition of burned out buildings at the closed Gulf Harbour Country Club, Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson has sent a strongly worded letter to country club owner Long River Investments’ Greg Olliver.
The letter, dated July 12, emphasises Auckland Council’s commitment to its 999-year encumbrance that retains the land as a golf course and country club.
The letter states that while council has not received any request for the encumbrance to be amended or removed, the community fears that this could occur.
“If a request to remove or amend the encumbrance is made, council will follow due process,” Wilson says. “But I also need to be clear that the purpose for which the encumbrance was entered into will be relevant, as will the interests of the broader community, including their expectation that the encumbrance would remain in place for 999 years.”
Local lobby group Keep Whangaparaoa’s Green Spaces has been seeking assurances like this from council since the country club was bought by developer Olliver three years ago.
The letter goes on to remind Olliver of his obligations under the encumbrance, particularly in respect of maintenance.
Council had to meet costs in excess of $200,000, in relation to the fires, and requires to be reimbursed in full for these, the letter says.
Wilson suggests that Olliver meet with council staff to discuss the issues.
“I can understand the community’s interest in the property and the lack of certainty around its future does create a vacuum for others to fill. It is in both our interests to provide clarity to the community,” he says.
More on this story in the next issue of Hibiscus Matters, out July 29.
