Dear Mayor and Councillors We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of a major injustice that requires your urgent attention concerning the future of Chamberlain Park golf course. Against significant opposition, the Albert-Eden Local Board (“AELB”) voted four votes to three (one abstaining because she turned up late) to redevelop Chamberlain Park – an asset that has been providing public access to the game of golf for 78 years. In fact, it was under a Labour-led get-back-to-work scheme that Chamberlain Park came into being (see attached appendix 1 for historic articles regarding the opening of the golf courses). The following reasons are why this is an injustice which needs to be reviewed and reassessed: • Chamberlain Park is one of only two public golf courses servicing the entire Auckland region. Thus chopping Chamberlain Park down to a 9-hole course as is planned significantly reduces the playing options for many. • With more than 50,000 rounds per year it is one of the busiest courses in Auckland – numbers over the past five years have been steady to increasing. • It is the place were the working class golfer plays – it is cheap and accessible; you can turn up any time of the week or day and get a game (NB: while access to private golf courses might have improved they are more expensive to play at and they are restricted to members during the busy weekend periods – those who cannot afford membership thus have very few options already!) • Golf is an 18-hole game – rich and poor deserve the opportunity to play golf on a proper 18-hole golf course. • People come from all over Auckland to play at Chamberlain Park. The future of this golf course therefore should not be determined by a select group of people with no apparent consideration for City-wide interests. • Chamberlain Park attracts a wide ethnic diversity of player – including Maori and Pacific Island/Polynesian players who come to play in significant numbers. Any diminution of amenity as a result of AELB’s plans can only work to disadvantage those people and will disproportionately impact on them. Their golf playing alternative options are few. • It supports a men’s and women’s club (with a combined membership of approx. 320), both of which may well disappear if Chamberlain Park was redeveloped to be a 9-hole course. • According to NZ Golf demand for the game will increase over the next 20 years as the population ages and expands. • Unlike most other sports golf, is a game you can play through your entire life. Golf thus has very good health attributes particularly for the aged not to mention the overweight. Reducing public access to golf will in turn reduce the opportunity for those in the community who are reliant on Chamberlain Park as low cost and accessible facility. What is being done to try and stop this senseless and expensive foray by a local board trying to raise $30m of rate payer money to redevelop a very well used and popular Auckland amenity? • Born out of unsatisfactory engagement over a sustained period, Save Chamberlain Park Incorporated was set up to formally challenge the decision by the AELB which we believe to be legally flawed and morally wrong – and process that is based false and misleading information • Funds are available to take a legal challenge against this decision • Two experienced and well regarded Auckland barristers – Julian Long and Doug Cowan – have been retained to bring proceedings. We expect to shortly be in a position to file a statement of claim (before the end of the month) • As part of this campaign we intend to seek publicity where we can to highlight this injustice and senseless waste of money • There is an estimated 94,000 golfers in Auckland who we plan on targeting (NB: many of them will be rate payers and voters) • We have a petition running that has attracted more than 5,000 signatures – this has been done with very little resource. With donations coming through our GiveaLittle campaign and direct we plan on significantly increasing our public push. An alternative plan has also been developed and tabled for any who may be interested. It would not involve $30m of rate payer money being spent on Chamberlain Park and it would keep the current 18-hole format whilst at the same time providing a broader amenity to the public (see below appendix 2 for an alternative plan). There are many examples both in New Zealand and overseas where golf courses are shared with the general public. Whilst we have significant issues with the masterplan – we also note that the current plan for Chamberlain Park incorporates an aquatic centre which we believe would be better located at Mt Albert War Memorial Reserve (“Rocket Park”) where there are existing facilities for both play and fitness if it is to be located in the AELB area at all. Fundamentally we believe that Chamberlain Park should be designated a Regional Asset so that the interests of the wider Auckland community can be taken into account when decisions are made about it. Its future thus should not be in the hands of a local board whose objectives are much more narrow and open to far less scrutiny and verification. We would be happy to meet with any member of the council to discuss our views and the alternative option. The people who are members of Save Chamberlain Park Inc are a representative group of golfers and non golfers who have joined together to try and stop this costly and unreasonable course of action taken by the AELB. We have tried to engage with the local board but have been shut down and ignored. We are serious about challenging this decision. We appeal to council members to fully investigate this process and reconsider Chamberlain Park’s status as a local asset under the control of the AELB. Yours sincerely, Geoff Senescall Chairperson of Save Chamberlain Park Inc. Appendix 1 – attached Appendix 2 WIN WIN FOR ALL The following is an alternative redevelopment of Chamberlain Park (“CP”) that recognises the importance of the 18-hole golf facility for Auckland but at the same time seeks to expand the public usage. No costings have been sought for this alternative plan but it does accommodate a broader range of activities whilst keeping the current 18-hole configuration. Our proposed redevelopment could be self funding if done properly so as not to burden rate payers. It could also incorporate most of the proposed increased community usage as envisioned by the Albert-Eden Local Board (“AELB”) masterplan. 1. Improve revenue generation The key objective here would be to help fund some of the proposed alternative redevelopment plans (as outlined below) whilst maintaining CP as a good and affordable 18-hole public golf course. Surplus funds from revenue generation could be used to promote and support golf at CP and also other activities. Currently CP is one of the busiest golf courses in Auckland – demand for a public golfing facility like CP is only going to increase with both an increasing and ageing population. In the last financial year CP generated a cash surplus of more than $200,000. It should be noted that under the AELB’s masterplan, even excluding the not insignificant capital costs, there will be a drop in revenue due to a reduction in patronage at a smaller and less appealing 9-hole course. The AELB is currently proposing a two-step redevelopment – under the AELB’s proposed initial redevelopment (which it apparently has the funds to achieve) the land the other side of Meola Creek would be annexed, significantly reducing the attractiveness of the course by slicing approx. 1000 metres from it, losing both par 5 holes as well as the number one stroke hole. It is likely that CP would have to significantly discount its green fees to attract players but will still likely suffer a meaningful drop in usage - it is also unclear what impact that this might have on both the men’s and women’s clubs during inter-club competition golf. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the AELB will achieve the $30m of estimated funding required to complete its Masterplan meaning a permanent reduction in revenue and usage. Some revenue generating ideas based on CP continuing to be an easily-accessible mid-range but challenging 18 hole golf course include: a. Tourism i. Just 10 minutes drive from the CBD, CP could easily tap into the increasing tourism boom. It could work with organisations such as ATEED to target the ships that come to Auckland. ii. Ensure that all inner city hotels are made aware of CP iii. Have a pick up and drop off service along with club rental. At a cost of say $120 per round (it could easily be more - $200 would be a cheap outing) door to door – if you got say 500 people a year that would generate $60,000 per year b. Sports i. Promote CP as an alternative fitness venue to teams like the Warriors and Auckland Blues (NB: both teams have been known to play early morning speed golf) c. Kids programme i. Put money into promoting Vic Pirihi’s golf clinic, particularly among locals. Promote golf as a game for life d. Target the elderly i. Promote CP as a friendly easy access course among the local retirement homes and other establishments (to facilitate access to the whole course put concrete pathways with rubber central strips through the entire course – this way CP would have an all year round cart track so that the less mobile can still enjoy the sport) e. Event targeting i. Target the Polynesian and Maori communities – both are already big users of CP ii. Promote CP for corporate events f. Other minority groups i. CP could support groups like the blind or the disabled, becoming a venue where golf can be played 2. Alternative Plan to Broaden the Amenity This could either self funded (using some of the initiatives outlined above), or supported by some of the capital expenditure currently being envisaged by the AELB. We note here that there are many examples of mixed usage at public courses – from Hagley Park in Christchurch to Saint Andrews Links in Scotland. a. Develop a cycle and walking track around the perimeter of the course – there is sufficient space to make this an attractive and usable area – particularly if the Waititiko creek is restored which incorporates a solution to the sewage overflow issues at Rawalpindi Reserve. b. Remove the greenkeeper’s shed (could be put around the bottom end of the car park that runs along the 18th green). This would create an area that could be used as a playground and or tennis courts and netball courts. c. Create an off-leash dog area on the 15th fairway on the green keeper side of the creek – the 15th hole could be shortened for a set period in the morning and evenings. At other times there could be an experienced tee area that ensures the number one stroke hole remains in place and challenging. For other golfers the hole could be shortened. d. Develop a virtual driving range – thus requiring much less space. Set up golfing clinics using the experience of the likes of James Kupa and Vic Pirihi. This would greatly assist for teaching and training purposes, thereby adding to the work already being done by James, Vic and the other course professionals. This range could be promoted particularly for children to give them a start and an appreciation for the game of golf so that at the very least they can pick it up in later life. e. Along with the driving range establish a chipping and putting practice area with several bunkers to help skill improvement. It is suggested that both facilities could be located at the present coaching area alongside the current 10th fairway. f. Upgrade the clubhouse facilities so that they can be used for community events such as art exhibitions, auctions, fund raising events, craft exhibitions, exercise and wellness classes, meetings and any other local-orientated civic activity. NB: The only thing in the AELB masterplan not accommodated here is the two sports fields. It should be noted that putting in sports fields at CP is problematic because of the difficult terrain (CP is sitting on basalt rock) and access from St Lukes Road which will require the support of Auckland Transport. As part of the vision we would also suggest: 1. CP is designated as a Regional Park to reflect the fact that it is an asset that is well used by all Aucklanders and plays an important role in providing recreational activity for the many who are not in a position to join a private golf course. 2. CP is formally recognised as the “home of the casual golfer” with an 18-hole layout to reflect its patronage and to ensure that it remains an asset for generations of Aucklanders to come.