Learn More About Keep Whangaparaoa's Green Spaces
The Threat to the current situation
KWGS Inc has an immediate concern about the land occupied by the Gulf Harbour Golf Course where there may well be plans to change the current Open Space zoning to Residential. Any zone change would require Council to set aside a 999 year Encumbrance which was established in 2006 to preserve this treasured green space in perpetuity.
Since the Gulf Harbour Golf Course was recently sold, the new owner may have intentions of developing the land for housing or other purposes. The land is currently zoned Open Space – Sport and Recreation and the covenant prevents further development of the land and requires it to be retained as a golf course. The covenant places a huge responsibility on the Council, as the Encumbrancee, to ensure the wider community’s interests are protected.
One of KWGS’ s immediate objectives has been to seek assurances from Council that it will enter into discussions with the wider community prior to any decision on covenant modification. Ultimately, KWGS Inc wants the Council to uphold this important covenant and preserve this significant Open Space zoned land. Recently, the Council has confirmed by email that, if the council receives a request to vary (or remove) the covenant from the golf course land, the council will consult with the Gulf Harbour community before any decision is made on such a request.
Open Space zones are critical to preserving our natural environment
Forest and Bird’ s Hibiscus Coast branch is working to protect an exciting diversity of habitats: from beaches; estuaries and native forests to suburbs; farmland and lifestyle blocks. In addition, Pest Free Hibiscus Coast is working to get rid of predators on the Whangaparaoa peninsula. KWGS Inc is committed to preserve the important Open Space zones like the Golf Course for the benefit of bird life on the peninsula.
For more information on preserving the natural environment on the peninsula visit;
Forest and Bird: https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/branches/hibiscus-coastPest Free Peninsula: https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/projects/pest-free-hibiscus-coast
Forest and Bird: https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/branches/hibiscus-coastPest Free Peninsula: https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/projects/pest-free-hibiscus-coast
Golf Club History of Development
The Encumbrance was first mooted during the 1990`s when the Gulf Harbour Plan Module was being developed as part of the Rodney District Council's proposed Plan Change 26. It was agreed at that time to require a Covenant on the Golf Course land protecting it from development as an offset for the increased housing density of the surrounding land and also as partial settlement of Reserve contributions for the Gulf Harbour development.
RDC Plan Change 26 1995 stated that there would be no development at Gulf Harbour until such time as the Covenant is in place.
It was not until 2006 that the Covenant was registered on the Golf Course land Title protecting it from development.
In addition to the Covenant on the Golf Course land, there are covenants on the individual residential properties next to or close to the Golf Course that place strict building standards and additional costs on those properties. These Covenants benefit the Golf Course and are made to:
- Enhance and protect the amenity value of neighbourhoods which are situated next to or close to the Golf Course so as to ensure that views and outlook to the Golf Course landscaping and golfing activities are protected and enhanced;
- Encourage architectural compatibility (visual accord) with the Gulf Harbour development;
- Enhance visual integration and harmony between the Golf Course and the neighbouring properties.
Traffic Congestion Is Problem that Will Get Worse
Presently there are around 3000 properties in Gulf Harbour and Army Bay with over 350 further vacant Residential zoned sites ready to be built on today. In addition, there are other large, as yet undeveloped, blocks in Gulf Harbour already zoned Residential that will inevitably be developed for housing in the future. We estimate that when fully developed within the current Unitary Plan zoning, traffic congestion from the Eastern Peninsula will increase by some 30% over today’ s already busy levels. There is only one road in and out of the Eastern Peninsula and further development over and above that consented will exacerbate the current chronic congestion. As of today, traffic jams and tailbacks regularly occur at Little Manly, Whangaparaoa township and the length of the Peninsula. The traffic congestion at this end of the Peninsula will not be alleviated even if or when the Penlink connection to State Highway One is completed.