NZ: Locals to fight developer they believe wants to build suburb on a golf course
Residents of Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparāoa peninsula are opposing a developer, Gregory Olliver, who they believe aims to turn their local golf course into a housing development. Olliver’s company, Long River Investments, purchased the Gulf Harbour Country Club in 2021, raising concerns among locals.
The Keep Whangaparāoa Green Space society (KWGS) was formed to resist the development. Residents were informed at a meeting that they would need to raise $200,000 for legal expenses to challenge Olliver in court.
There are rumors that Olliver plans to divide the golf course into three portions and sell them. The residents’ society is advocating that the land remains dedicated to open space, sport, or recreation under a land encumbrance lasting a thousand years. Although no official application to change this encumbrance has been submitted, residents are preparing for the process.
The community is worried about potential property devaluation due to the proposed development, estimating a 10% loss of property value totaling $500 million. Auckland councillor John Watson emphasized that organized and well-informed communities can successfully oppose developers’ plans.
Gregory Olliver has faced legal issues in the past, including a ban on being a company director for not paying an $836,000 earthworks bill. He has also been involved in a lengthy dispute with his ex-wife. The Gulf Harbour Country Club’s former director of golf, Fraser Bond, suggests that Olliver’s company did not effectively manage the golf course, and instead, redevelopment might have been a fallback plan.
The golf course, which previously had about 900 members, has seen a decline in membership and tournaments. Olliver’s purchase price for the country club is undisclosed, but previous offers were reportedly around $24 million. Despite two years of efforts to make the golf course profitable, a letter was sent to members stating that operations would cease due to financial inviability.
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