Proposal to sell Fitzroy Golf Course horrifies golfers and neighbours
Golfers and neighbours are aghast at a council proposal to sell off half of a public golf course in New Plymouth.
The 83-year-old Fitzroy Golf Course sits on 38 hectares of prime coastal land in the city’s east.
New Plymouth District Council owns the land and the club, which has about 250 members, has about five and a half years left on its lease.
Mayor Neil Holdom said a development could earn up to $50 million which could offset future rates bills and pay for vital infrastructure.
Mr Holdom said there was another golf club just a kilometre up the road and the Fitzroy course was a gold mine that could be put to better use.
“Half the money could be used to fund future large infrastructure projects like potentially water reservoirs to walkways – those sorts of big developments.
“And then taking the other half of the proceeds and purchasing more land for future developments so in effect creating a perpetual land development fund.”
The council will discuss the proposal in the coming weeks with an eye to including it in its 2018 long-term plan when it would go out for public consultation.
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