What happened in our Local Board business meetings
Notable things from our November business meeting
Gulf Harbour Golf Course
We had a deputation from Keep Whangararāoa’s Green Spaces Incorporated Society (KWGS). Residents in Gulf Harbour formed KWGS some months ago amid concerns about the closure of the Gulf Harbour Golf Course and rumours that the owners (Long River Corporation Ltd) wanted to develop the land into housing instead.
The owners have put in a Resource Consent Application (boundary adjustment). In brief, the owners believe the Golf Course has been unsuccessful over the years because of the larger than required footprint and associated maintenance of the approximate 90 ha. Apparently most 18 hole courses are approximately 50 ha. They wish to redevelop the golf course by having a more sustainable footprint. This would entail selling an area of 37ha - this would leave the remaining title too small for an 18-hole golf course, so they are relying on purchasing another piece of land adjacent to the course which would give them the required footprint.
KWGS are very concerned that the owners could be allowed to sell off the 37ha and then the required purchase of new land to make up the golf course will fall through, leaving them in a situation where a golf course cannot operate and all the land eventually developed. There have been concerns already raised about the owners alleging to have a contract in place for the new additional land, but the owners of that land saying that isn't true at all.
Following the deputation from KWGS the Local Board requested an investigation report from staff on what is taken into consideration when reviewing a resource consent application, in particular for an application such as the Long River Investments Corporation Limited at Proposed Boundary Adjustment 180 Gulf Harbour Drive, Gulf Harbour, Whangaparāoa
Background information on golf course situation
Earlier this year on 16 August, over 400 people packed out the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club to discuss concerns about the sudden closure of the Gulf Harbour Golf Course and the view that this is a prelude to the owner attempting to reverse the 999-year covenant protecting the 91 hectares of land as open space for golfing purposes.
This covenant was put in place in 2006 by Rodney District Council (Encumbrance Instrument #99827 between Gulf Harbour Country Club Limited and Rodney District Council) as an offset in recognition of the much higher intensification allowed for in multiple adjoining developments and the actual open space deficit across the Gulf Harbour area.
Section 317 of the Property Law Act allows for a party to a covenant (the Encumbrance is a covenant) to petition the High Court to remove or modify a covenant. However, this covenant specifically states (‘Modifications of statutory provisions (2a)) that ‘the Encumbrancee is entitled to none of the powers and remedies given to encumbancees by the Land Transfer Act 1952 and the Property Law Act 1952.”
This means that the current owners may not unilaterally obtain a private land use zoning change that would breach the encumbrance requirements of maintaining the land as a golf course.
Play Leadership Group
Myself and members Julia Parfitt and Jake Law were appointed to the Play Leadership Group. We will be exploring how we can increase play diversity for our (and all) communities and achieve play outcomes through different projects. More information here.
More murals coming to Browns Bay
Annually the Local Board receives film income through the permitting of filming on public land within the local board area. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited have confirmed film income revenue of $6,000 for Hibiscus and Bays to allocate into their 2023/2024 work programme for three beautification murals at Browns Bay Beach Reserve as identified by Community Facilities staff.
December business meeting
Long Bay Primary School
Principal Rob Hutton and two students came to present to our Local Board on some concerns they have in the drop-off/pick up point outside the school.
Use up your yellow rubbish bags before March!
EnviroNZ will withdraw from the residential refuse bag market in the North Shore area in March 2024 for commercial viability reasons, which will affect approximately 20,000 customers.
EnviroNZ will begin to phase out yellow rubbish bags and stop supplying to retailers at the end of November 2023, with the refuse collection ending 1 March 2024. Affected residents with remaining yellow refuse bags after 1 March 2024 will be able to dispose of their waste using these bags for no additional cost at the Constellation Drive Resource Recovery Centre and Patiki Road Refuse Transfer Stations.
The council ‘pay as you throw’ bin collection service with pre-paid tags will continue to be available in the North Shore until the area is scheduled to transition to a rates-funded refuse collection service from December 2024.
Browns Bay Beach foreshore remediation works
A short update on the upcoming foreshore remediation works at Browns Bay. The works are being undertaken to address the recent beach lowering and erosion of the reserve edge, including recovery of exposed rock material to be repurposed for the construction of localised rock revetments at the south and north of the reserve, combined with naturalisation and dune reshaping of the central section.
Due to an unforeseen delay in contractor availability, physical works for this project are being postponed. The works are now estimated to commence in late January. In the interim, the accessway steps at the southern end by the Anzac Road Carpark will be made safe for usage over the holiday period.
Give feedback on Gulf Harbour ferry timetable
Auckland Transport (AT) are running a survey until 24 December to help inform them whether changes are needed to the current ferry timetable. The survey asks what time you wish to arrive in the city and what time you wish to arrive at Gulf Harbour. Results will inform whether current times are working as well as they can.
A reduced timetable for the Gulf Harbour ferry has been running since 1 October 2023. AT informed that the Gulf Harbour ferry services had to be reduced so Fullers360 can dedicate vessels and time needed to undertake a training programme for ferry crew - you can find out more about the programme here.
The reduced timetable is based on the most popular sailing times before the reductions were introduced. With the current crew and vessels available, we have the following constraints:
· Only two trips departing Gulf Harbour in the morning and two departing Downtown in the afternoon can be accommodated
· The trips need to be at least two hours apart due to the travel time.
· However, there is some flexibility in the times that we can operate these trips.
Orewa walkway and seawall - project update
Detailed design for the new seawall and walkway along Orewa beach is progressing well and is expected to be completed shortly.
The 600-metre-long seawall between Kohu Street and Marine View will be constructed with a grouted rock surface and include access ramps and stairs to the beach. A new concrete shared path will follow the seawall alignment for most of its length.
Construction is planned to start in April 2024 and will be staged over two years between the months of April to October to avoid the busy summer season. Improvements to Kinloch Reserve have been included in the project.
The design features an area of dry high-tide beach, a new footbridge across the watercourse, a lookout, seating areas to enjoy the views, and pedestrian access points to the beach.
If you would like to receive regular newsletter updates about this project, please email orewaseawall@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
O Mahurangi Penlink update
Back in November, I had the chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at the progress of O Mahurangi Penlink.
This is a $830M NZ Upgrade project being delivered by NZTA Waka Kotahi that will form a vital transport link for people who live and work in Silverdale, Whangaparāoa and the Hibiscus Coast. The new two-lane road and shared walking and cycling path will provide improved travel times between Whangaparāoa and wider Auckland. It's due to be completed at the end of 2026.
We saw the site of the temporary platform for the Wēiti River Bridge (one of six bridges being built). At Ara Wēiti Road we saw the new road taking shape through the forest and some of the work on East Coast Road.
Waiwera Water and Wastewater Servicing Project
Watercare's contractors for the project will be investigating several locations in the road, berms and reserves along the proposed pipeline route (see map).
Expected Community Impacts:
Date of works January 2024 – February 2024 (weather depending).
Each investigation will take between one and seven days to complete depending on the depth required to drill.
Work hours 7:00am to 5:00pm.
Geotechnical investigations will generate some noise and vibration; however, levels will be kept to a minimum and in accordance with Auckland Council requirements.
Temporary fencing (such as cones and arms) may be setup around the geotechnical investigation sites.
Traffic management will be in place around the works area and partially in the road corridor..
All investigation sites will be fully reinstated upon completion of the works.
Pontoon delays for Waiake, Tindalls and Manly beaches
The installation of the new pontoons at Tindalls, Manly and Waiake Beach will be delayed due to an issue with the suppliers in Australia. This means that the pontoons will not arrive in Auckland until the 29th of December. The company that receives, assembles and installs them will be closed at that time for the Christmas and New Years break until mid-January. These pontoons are now scheduled to be installed (weather depending), on the week of the 22nd of January.
November & December in photos
R-L: Onsite visit to Penlink to check out the progress; Pest Free Hibiscus Coast end of year volunteer event; Light-up-the-Plaza event in Browns Bay; Browns Bay Christmas Parade with North Harbour Community Patrol; Okura Residents' Association Christmas event; carols at Okura Christmas event; Restore Hibiscus and Bays end of year volunteer event.
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