Newsletter from Keep Whangaparaoa’s Green Spaces Inc. (KWGS)
15 September, 2023
Dear KWGS Petitioners and supporters
The recent announcement by the current owner to close Gulf Harbour Country Club (GHCC) with less than a week’s notice, has shocked and amazed Peninsula residents.
The reason given was that GHCC can no longer be operated as a commercially profitable business and yet it has not been offered for sale, creating concerns as to the owner’s intentions.
KWGS also believes that there may be plans to change the use of the land to housing. That would mean the beloved green space and golf course would be lost forever. It would irrevocably alter the fundamental character of Gulf Harbour as a master planned coastal community anchored by the marina and golf course.
Who is affected? Many sections of the community, golfers, junior coaching programmes, course side homeowners, Gulf Harbour homeowners, Whangaparaoa Road homeowners, in fact, all residents of the eastern peninsula, along with visitors and tourists.
It is estimated that up to another 3000 homes could be built if the golf course land was rezoned. This would be a disaster for the environment, the water infrastructure and traffic up and down the Peninsula would be horrendous. It would also be contradictory to the Gulf Harbour Non-Regulatory Design guidelines, adopted by Council on September 2004 in which “The Golf Course and marine environment should remain as the dominant landscape feature providing significant open space as well as recreation resources” to guide development.
The golf course land is currently owned by Long River Investments Corporation Limited which in turn is owned by the Phoenix Trust Limited.
The Phoenix Trust Limited is owned by Greg Olliver who was banned by the Companies Office in 2021 from being a company director or being involved directly or indirectly in the management of a company. The ban was for four years.
KWGS is leading the fight to retain the golf course on several fronts after our highly successful public meeting which was attended by more than 350 members of the community.
We are endeavouring to get prepaid subs refunded for golfers and working through the legal options to preserve the Green Space zoning. We are also actively engaging with Auckland Council with our 4600-signature petition. This is initially through the Hibiscus Bays local board and then onto the full Council. We are demanding that the 999-year encumbrance/covenant requiring the golf course land to be used only for this purpose is upheld unreservedly.
KWGS has already engaged well regarded legal and professional experts, some pro bono, and others with the specific skills required to advise on these types of issues.
However, we may have to initiate High Court action. For this we will need; lawyers, a barrister, planning and environment expertise, Geotech and water infrastructure engineers, transport advice and more. This has an estimated cost of between $200,000 and $300,000.
Therefore, KWGS needs a fighting fund/war chest and we need your financial assistance. We will be in touch again soon outlining how you can contribute towards our fundraising effort to fight to retain the golf course.
Kind regards
Nigel Varey
President, Keep Whangaparaoa’s Green Spaces Inc.
president@kwgnz.org +64 21644358
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