Dear Mayor Goff, councillors and council executives, I would like to bring to your attention the AELB’s disturbing disregard for both the legal process and rate payers. Justice Moore, who is presiding over the Judicial Review between Save Chamberlain Park (“SCP”) and the Council, seems to indicate he would not be impressed if SCP were required to file a formal application to ensure that the Auckland Council ceases work at Chamberlain Park until he has the opportunity to hear the arguments and issue his determination. In spite of this, preparation work for redevelopment at Chamberlain Park continues: · on 15 November and 12 December Philip Tatarangi, a contract golf course designer, was seen at the course taking notes and with an engineer. · on 5 December a contract engineer was at the course. He was approached and indicated that he should not be on the course · on 5 December a group of people turned up at the park enquiring about sewage and water pipelines. · on 13 December ground pentrating radar was being used to track water and sewage pipelines around the 14th and 15th tees and the greenkeepers shed. Enquiry of the operator revealed that this work was being done on behalf of CLC Consulting Group who are involved with the proposed playground development. No notification of process has been given to the members of Chamberlain Park Golf Club. Following inquiry it would also seem some members of the AELB are not aware of what is taking place, in spite of this being a very significant project for the area. But apart from the poor communication, the clear decision to proceed with preparatory work implies that the AELB has no regard for the judge’s decision. Indeed if the judge finds in our favour then any expenditure might very well be a waste of rate payer money – with the public set for yet another round of rate rises such needless expenditure will be viewed as unacceptable. Kind regards and merry Christmas Geoff Senescall Chair of Save Chamberlain Park