The leading Auckland mayoral candidate Phil Goff has told a Chamberlain Park member that the multi million dollar carve up of the iconic central city public golf course is going ahead. The confirmation was given at a chance meeting with Mr Goff at the Countdown supermarket in Three Kings where he indicated to the member of the Chamberlain Park woman's golf club that redeveloping the course was effectively a 'done deal'. The revelation as to Mr Goff's position comes after his failure to respond to attempts by the Chamberlain Park action group as to his view on the future of the public course that, somewhat ironically given his stance, was developed by a get-back-to-work initiative of the Michael Joseph Savage Labour government. It is understood that Mr Goff has very close links to Glenda Fryer and Peter Haynes who are both members of the City Vision arm of the Albert Eden Local Board and are strong advocates for the redevelopment of the park. However, both Fryer and Haynes, in the wake of strong opposition, have played down their support for redevelopment of Chamberlain Park in their respective candidacy statements for the upcoming elections. A petition that currently has around 2,500 signatures, and growing, is in circulation and will be presented to the Albert Eden Local Board at its first public meeting. The Chamberlain Park action group said in response to Mr Goff's comments: "Chamberlain Park is one of only two public golf courses in Auckland and given its central location is one of the busiest golf courses in the country. It is a place where those who can't afford to join a club or who simply like the casual nature of the public course can play. It is first in first served - everyone is treated equally. It is also a club that attracts a very diverse ethnic variety of players. It would be a tragedy to carve the course up when it is a very well utilised facility that services the entire Auckland region - remember in a Shapeauckland survey golf was named as the number one sport; demand for such public facilities will only likely increase. People such as Michael Campbell, Gary Player and Keith Urban have enjoyed the odd round at Chamberlain. The cost of redevelopment as estimated by Mr Haynes to rate payers would be $31million - the figure is likely to be much higher in our estimate. We ask Mr Goff, is this is a good use of funds especially when this is a well used Auckland facility? Even though the City Vision dominated Albert Eden Local Board won a four to three vote to redevelop Chamberlain Park, funds to develop this well used Auckland asset comes from the Council coffers! " Richard Quince 021 02716935