Auckland Council CEO pens letter to abandoned golf course owner
The Gulf Harbour Country Club being demolished in late May. (Source: Auckland Council)
Auckland Council’s chief executive has written to the land owner Whangaparāoa Peninsula golf club in the Auckland’s Gulf Harbour suburb, seven weeks after two fires largely destroyed its buildings.
The Whangaparāoa Peninsula course, which hosted the New Zealand Golf Open in 2005 and 2006, was closed “with immediate effect” in July last year.
The first fire occurred on May 18 and saw the club’s golf shop go up in flames. The second fire — three days later — saw the club itself largely destroyed, leaving the community heartbroken. Officials have said the fires were likely caused by an “incendiary”.
The country club was demolished following the fires.
In the letter to Long River Investments Corporation Limited last week, council chief executive Phil Wilson talked of the 999-year encumbrance on the land that requires it to be used as a golf course and country club, and reminded Greg Olliver and Wayne Bailey — in their capacity as director or shareholder — of the required maintenance of the property.
Wilson said it was “a matter of simply being a good neighbour”. Local residents have been maintaining the grounds themselves, some with ride-on lawnmowers.
“Recent fire damage, lack of maintenance and now long term freedom camping on the property are all of serious concern.”
Wilson also revealed the demolition had cost the council more than $200,000 in “engineering, demolition, disposal and security purposes”.
“We will require to be reimbursed in full for these and an invoice will be with you shortly.”
On the encumbrance, which came into force in 2006, Wilson wrote: “My existing obligation and I dare say the ongoing political direction of Council to me as Chief Executive, will be to ensure the encumbrance is honoured.”
He noted the community’s expectations that the encumbrance remain in place. Keep Whangaparāoa’s Green Spaces (KWGS) was formed amid development fears and it has expressed a number of times the encumbrance should remain.
Wilson said the council had not received any request from Long River to remove or amend the encumbrance, either in whole or in part.
“The community are certainly of the opinion that such a request is likely to be made to the Council and, in general terms, are strongly of the view that Council should vigorously resist any changes that would diminish the current arrangements.”
He said the council would follow “due process” if a request was made. Wilson added the purpose for which the encumbrance was entered into would be relevant, along with the community’s expectations.
Fire at closed Auckland golf course sees shop go up in flames
