What the Rodney Times didn’t publish
Patrick Kennelly, Chairman of the Peninsula Golf Club, was asked by the Rodney Times last week (10 May 2012) to provide them with a statement outlining the Golf Club’s position on the proposed redevelopment of the Golf Club land. The Rodney Times published an article this week (15 May 2012) which quoted small passages but did not provide the full context. The full statement that the Rodney Times didn’t publish is reproduced below.
Letter from Peninsula Golf Club to Rodney Times from Patrick Kennelly, Chairman
Peninsula Golf Club’s Position on Rezoning of Land and sale to PLDL
The Peninsula Golf Club (“PGC”) is an Incorporated Society and the assets are owned by the members who fund the administration and running of the Golf Club from mainly subscriptions and the use of the facilities.
The maintenance of the Clubhouse and Golf Course are paid for in this way. As privately owned land we receive no help from the Auckland Council (previously Rodney District Council) to maintain what is seen as being a Green Space.
All of this is dependent upon us maintaining a strong membership. Golf has lost a large following during the Global Financial Crisis and PGC now has fewer members than it had in 2007 when it completed the last of its redevelopment work.
It was faced at the beginning of 2008 needing to find funding to completely renew the Clubhouse roof at a cost of $80,000 plus consent fees and scaffolding. The pump for the irrigation system needed to be replaced and the lake which holds the water needed for irrigation purposes had to be increased in size at a total estimated cost for new pump and increase in lake size of $208,000.00; bringing the total costs to about $300,000.00. In addition we had machinery used to maintain the Golf Course which needed to be replaced.
All of this needed to be funded by the members who were paying a subscription of $1100 a year and were not prepared to pay any more.
The Course was closed for most of the winter because it was too wet to play and our older members were unable to use the course for 6 months of the year as they could not get access with golf carts.
We needed to do something to find the money to pay for the capital items which needed urgent attention – the roof, new pump, increase lake size and replacement of machinery – and the only way to do it was to borrow the money and increase subscriptions to pay for it – in other words the members would have to pay for it. We would get no help from the Council or the neighbours (other than those who were members) to maintain the “Green Space”.
The burden fell to the members and they were dwindling in numbers.
And then along came the offer which brought all of this worry to an end and the Club quite properly accepted it.
If the Objectors are successful then they are going to cause the financial ruination of the PGC. And they do not even own the land. The Auckland Council are not going to fund the Golf Club.
The question that needs to be answered by the Objectors is how they would feel if they were told by others what they could do with their land. Would they want to have to stay on their land if they had received an offer which removed all their worries and gave them something which was not only 50 times better than what they had already, but ended the financial burden to them as land owners?
And PGC has tried to stay on the land. It went to the RDC for help to stay and to overcome our problems with drainage at the bottom of the Course and spent over $20,000 on an Engineering report which also provided a remedy to downstream flooding problems in Red Beach. RDC committed money through the Annual Plan to assist with remedial drainage work but none was ever forthcoming other than a $5,000 contribution to the report. Where were the Councillors who are now gathering people around them to oppose the Plan Change Application when that was being considered?
No one wants to be told what they can and cannot do with their land – why should the Golf Club members be seen as being any different to anyone else.
And as sports men and woman investing time and money to play our sport, should we be denied the opportunity to have the best available facilities for the playing of golf in Auckland? For those people who play sport, imagine if your sport was offered the best available playing conditions and clubhouse and you were denied it and had to remain playing in terrible conditions and have a drink in a building that leaks and is cold in winter when you had been offered a replacement which exceeded your wildest dreams.
This is not selfish – but rather has to be seen as being very sensible. Who would turn down an opportunity which remedies all your problems and issues and also provides a wonderful community asset available for use (at a cost) by those who want to play golf?
And why would Red Beach School get involved in opposing when the opportunities that the new Course provides for Junior Golf and the introduction to golf through the construction of a 9 hole par 3 Course are something we could never build on the present site. This is about our children and grandchildren being introduced to the game we love and enjoy as much about the benefits of providing a great practice facility to allow for the development of junior golfers. This is aimed at getting young people into golf and the outdoors. What can be wrong about that?
What better use of land – dairying, or a Golf Course which will be built to meet the latest environmental standards and a Clubhouse which is eco friendly. How bad can that be in terms of looking after the interests of future generations.
And this is what the whole project is about for the Golf Club – looking forward and future proofing the Club. And what organisation would not do that given the opportunity presented to the Golf Club?
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Homes may replace golf course
Last updated 03/04/2008
DOUBLE BOGEY: Rodney District Council Deputy mayor John Kirikiri, left, and Hibiscus Coast councillor Zane Taylor say Peninsula Golf Club proposals for the Red Beach course are just an idea.
The rolling fairways of Red Beach’s 44-hectare Peninsula Golf Club could become home to 600 houses.
Residents are alarmed at speculation a developer could swap the site for a new course, or buy the land to build on it.
A letter sent to members on March 27 2008 by club general manager Phil Christie outlined an opportunity presented to the board. It includes swapping the site for an up to 80 hectare purpose-built course and clubhouse in Wainui.
The site already has resource consent for a course and is about 10 minutes drive from the present course.
There also is a substantial cash consideration.
The Rodney District Council has been fielding inquiries from residents, some of whom have bought their sections from the club, fearing their house values would plummet should the plans proceed.
"There is a high level of anxiety about the idea, and that is a major concern," Hibiscus Coast councillor Zane Taylor says.
"The first the council knew of any plans was when it received a copy of the letter. It is just an idea and it may or may not go any further. But we will be watching carefully."
Other residents expressed concern about what a development would mean for an already overstretched infrastructure, the loss of greenspace, and the club’s obligations to people who bought properties at a premium because they overlooked the fairways.
The Rodney Times understands the Red Beach course would automatically revert to residental zoning should the club leave.
Deputy mayor John Kirikiri says he received a dozen calls and a number of emails about the proposals on Wednesday, but warned the proposal is just a thought by the club.
"Any such plans require buy-in from members, and there are many planning processes to go through before the site could be developed in the way some people are guessing," he says.
Mr Christie declined to comment, saying it was early days and only a club matter at the moment.
He says the club has nothing to hide and the public would be kept informed.
Club members were informed the company that presented the proposals had engaged a course architect to assess the Wainui site’s feasibility, and once that was available the club would hold an information meeting.
***********************************************************
Battle over golf club begins
Last updated 22/04/2008
The Peninsula Golf Club board
is urging members to vote for a proposal to relocate the club to a
purpose-built course in Wainui in exchange for turning over its 44-hectare site
to a developer.
The
course may become a 600-house subdivision after September 2011, if the
developer succeeds with a Rodney district plan change application.
In a
letter to members last Friday, the board says a special meeting will be called
shortly to vote on the offer, which it says is the only sensible course of
action to secure the future of the club.
The
Rodney Times understands the meeting will be in May.
The
club’s land was originally zoned future urban, but the Rodney District Council
proposed to change this to ‘open space five’ in 2000.
Then,
on September 16, 2004, following objections from the club and other parties, it
reverted to future urban – meaning a minimum of four hectare blocks is allowed.
To
change that to suburban housing will take a district plan change application
and, almost certainly, it will have to be publicly notified.
If club
members accept the proposal they will get a completely new, par 72, 18-hole
golf course on an 80-hectare site developed to their own specifications and
built to an international standard.
It will
include improved practice facilities, a clubhouse, lounge areas, restaurant and
bars, private function facilities, administration offices, locker rooms, and
meeting rooms.
A large
amount of cash is also offered, which will see the future of the club secured
for the next 50 years.
More
than 350 residents opposing the plan met at the Red Beach School hall on Sunday
to decide battle plans. Environment lawyer Russell Bartlett has been appointed
to investigate their options.
The
club has received further details of the proposal from the property developers
and course architect, Puddicombe Golf.
"This
is not the first time this offer has been made," says club management
board chairman Patrick Kennelly.
A
previous approach by the developer some years ago was rejected by club members
as they were being asked to vacate the course immediately and wait some years
for the new course to be developed," he says.
Under
the new proposal, the construction and establishment period for the new course
is expected to take no more than three years, during which time the club will
retain full use of the existing course.
"At that time, the development company will take ownership
of the current course and pay a considerable sum of money to the club, which
will then permanently relocate to the new site," the members’ advisory
says.
Chairman of the newly
formed Preserve Peninsula Golf Club Association – PPGA – Richard Eames believes
it is premature to ask club members to vote on the issue when all other options
have not been
explored.
explored.
"I think everybody should take a breather," he says.
"There are other ways to solve this problem. The course is
a community asset and, while it may belong to the club, it has been a jewel in
the Red Beach crown for more than 50 years," says Mr Eames.
One speaker at the PPGA meeting was applauded when he suggested
it would be better to allow the club to sell the carpark and clubhouse land for
multi-storey development and retain the course.
Another suggested that everyone at the meeting should pay the
$1100 joining fee, become members and vote down the proposal.
The club has less than 700 voting members.
"We should firstly ask the committee and club members
fundamentally to look at the ‘rightness’ of this decision.
"Having sold off adjoining land at a premium over the last
few years," says Mr Eames.
More than 120 properties adjoin the club with hundreds more
overlooking the fairways.
Mr Kennelly says the club has never been land developers.
"We are golfers, and our single purpose in life is to play
golf.
"The current land is an overland flood path, which means it
is a bog in the winter and the Sahara desert in the summer. We have serious
issues with stormwater."
He says the four pieces of land sold off were as a result of
approaches by developers and not any active attempt by the club.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/380418/Battle-over-golf-club-begins
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Club to vote on swap
16/06/2009
Peninsula Golf Club members vote next Tuesday on a
proposal to swap the club’s Silverdale debt-free, 44-hectare site for cash and
a custom-built course in Wainui.
Peninsula Land Development wants to
build about 600 homes on the site if members approve the swap.
Work on the new golf club is expected
to start in two to three years, the time allowed to develop the course and
facilities, hand it over to the club and process consents for the residential
development.
Club officials are tight-lipped about
the proposal, saying the issue is "the golf club’s business" and that
they are "happy to talk once the vote has been taken".
More than 340 members attended a
presentation by the developers last week where representative Michael Newby
told them they would be getting "arguably the best members’ golf course in
the country" in exchange for the prime residential site, zoned future
urban.
The presentation appeared to be well
received by members, observers say.
Mr Newby is involved with Westbrooke
Capital Partners, an early stage investment company, which owns 50 percent of
Peninsula Land. The other 50 percent is held by Manawa Partners of Palmerston
North.
The current zoning means the golf club
land has been earmarked for future residential development under the Auckland
Regional Council’s Auckland Growth Strategy, and will need to be rezoned
residential.
"The Rodney District Council is
bound to give effect to the Auckland Growth Strategy," says John Maassen,
a resource management lawyer acting for the developer.
"It can be rezoned residential
subject to appropriate urban design and network infrastructure such as roading
and stormwater facilities," he says.
The developer intends to use the couple
of years it will take to build the new course in Wainui to complete the necessary
approvals and consents required for the residential development.
The proposed course covers 81 hectares
at 627 Wainui Rd. Peninsula Land has a secured option on the property, which
comes with an approved resource consent for a golf course.
As for the current golf club land, Mr
Maassen says that even under the existing Resource Management Act, a
well-prepared presentation could be "disposed of" within six to eight
months.
Peninsula Land will probably wait until
a revamped Resource Management Act comes into effect before submitting its
application.
"We are well advanced for
submission of plans and a full application by the end of August," he says.
"The proposed residential
development will offer a range of property sizes with components of medium
density – there will be no controversial towers.
"We will be ready to start once
consents are received if the demand is there. And we believe it is given the
growth prospects for the area," he says.
Peninsula Land denies any impression
was given to club members that the district council is aboard and in support of
the project.
"It is very important that due
process take place and the company would like to stress that all discussions
with the council and other interested parties to date have been cordial and at
arms length," says Mr Newby.
Mr Maassen says that
the only visits to the council have been to seek information, a normal practice
with such a project.
**
Members vote for a swap
Last updated 09:33 25/06/2009
Peninsula Golf Club members voted
overwhelmingly on Tuesday to accept a proposal by Peninsula Land Development to
swap the club’s 44-hectare site at Silverdale for a custom-built course on 81
hectares at Wainui.
It is thought a cash
consideration in excess of $10 million also will go to the club.
The final vote was 330 members
in favour of the proposal and 68 against. The club has about 590 eligible
voting members among 830 members.
Peninsula Land plans call for about
600 housing units to be developed on the site, including some medium density
properties.
Work at Silverdale is expected
to start in two to three years once the Grant Puddicombe designed Wainui course
is completed and handed over to the club.
While this is happening,
Peninsula Land says it expects to complete the procedural requirements for the
housing development.
The land will need to be
rezoned from future urban under the Auckland Growth Strategy to residential,
and appropriate resource consents granted.
"A full application is
expected to be ready for submission by the end of August," says resource
management lawyer John Maassen, acting for the developer.
"The club has voted for
the proposal and it is their right to do so," says member Richard Eames, one
of those who voted against accepting the proposal. "It moves now from a
golf club issue to a community issue."
Ball starts rolling in golf site takeover
Last updated 05:00 03/08/2010
Conditional purchaser Peninsula Land Development Ltd has asked the Rodney District Council for a district plan change to allow the project to proceed.
There are limited grounds for the council to refuse to permit the request for a land-use change to the 45 hectare property, zoned future urban, to proceed to the stage of being notified for public submissions.
PLDL planners the McAlley Consulting Group of Rotorua say in the application that the project "protects natural and physical resources, providing for residential growth within the Auckland region within the defined Metropolitan Urban limits".
In exchange, the club is to get a custom-built course on an 81 hectare Wainui site, and a cash consideration thought to be about $12 million.
After more than a year of discussion nearly 400 members of the club's 580 eligible members voted overwhelmingly in late June 2009 to accept the offer.
The council says there is a lot of work to be done before any proposed plan can be agreed and notified for public consultation.
"Based on previous experience, as a result of council input the details of private plan change applications often change from the time they are submitted to the time they are publicly notified," council strategy and policy director Warren Maclennan says.
The first step is for council staff to ensure the application is complete.
There could be changes made before both sides are comfortable with the content and the proposal is accepted, notified and public submissions called for, he says.
No decision has been made on whether submissions would be heard by the council or commissioners acting on behalf of the council.
Heading directly to the Environment Court for a decision is not an option.
Applicants can only request that resource consent applications be referred directly to the Environment Court, not private plan change requests, Mr Mclennan says.
"However if the decision is appealed, this would be considered by the Environment Court."
Whatever course is adopted, the procedures that lie ahead for the developers guarantee the project will not be given the green light before Rodney gets absorbed into the supercity on November 1, the council says.
Planner Ian McAlley says the Rodney District Council appointed some time ago a private consultant to process the plan change application to ensure that the necessary resources were available and, therefore, avoid undue delays
"I have been in contact with the council throughout the planning process and we accept that due process must be followed. But we would not want to see this project unnecessarily delayed because the supercity is on the horizon," he says.
John Maassen is the resource management lawyer acting for PLDL.
"Our position is that the application is extremely comprehensive and meets all requirements of the Resource Management Act," he says. "We would expect it to be processed promptly by the council in accordance with the statutory time frames and consistent with the new streamlining provisions of the act."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/3982779/Ball-starts-rolling-in-golf-site-takeover
Red Beach land row
15/05/2012
Angry residents are battling a proposed development that could
change the face of Red Beach.
Submissions close on
Friday on a proposal to rezone the Peninsula Golf Club's land from urban future
to medium intensity residential, enabling a development of up to 520 homes.
Red Beach residents are
crying foul over the proposal, which they say will lead to a raft of problems.
The golf club says it can
no longer afford to stay where it is and that a relocation will benefit the
community too.
In June 2009, golf club
members voted to sell their land to Peninsula Land Development Ltd, which would
subdivide the land, pending rezoning to medium residential.
The agreement involved
swapping the site for $12 million and a new golf course in Wainui.
But people at a meeting
at Red Beach School on May 6 were almost unanimously opposed to the project.
Residents Nick and
Christine Frantzen set up SaveRedBeach.co.nz the next day.
Areas of concern include
increased traffic, development noise, a lack of green spaces and whether
wastewater, nearby schools and other services could cope with the increased
population.
"One of the things
people on the Hibiscus Coast identify with is the village atmosphere and life
and I think this is in direct opposition to that way of life," Mr Frantzen
says.
"I don't want to
drive past the development later and know I could have done something to stop
it."
Hibiscus and Bays Local
Board member John Kirikiri says Red Beach's infrastructure could not cope with
the development.
Mr Kirikiri says
retirement village residents, and the majority of residents and ratepayers are
also opposed to the proposal, as is his local board.
On the Peninsula Golf
Club's website, a statement says: "Rezoning of the land comes with a
number of benefits, including improved infrastructure, an effective stormwater
system, and a better environment for birdlife in the area."
But Mr Kirikiri is
incredulous at this claim.
Not only would Mr
Kirikiri like to prevent the rezoning, he would like to know how it was rezoned
from open green space in the first place.
Mr Kirikiri says there
are major safety issues concerning the proposal and sentimental concerns such
as memorial trees planted on the course. It would only benefit a few at the
expense of the majority, he says.
From the club's
perspective, there are a number of reasons to take the deal.
A new course at Wainui
will be built at no cost to members, the course and facilities will be new and
improved and the move would provide considerable funds for the club, chairman
Patrick Kennelly says.
Current facilities are old, the present course is small and is
often closed because of flooding. An upgrade to the existing course was due to
be completed this year. But it ran out of funds five years ago with only seven
of 18 holes completed.
Mr Kennelly says the
possibility of borrowing was discussed but that also meant raising
subscriptions to cover costs which was unpopular.
The Peninsula Land
Development deal will solve these problems.
"For them [PLDL]
it's not a bad deal really. They'll probably do reasonably well out of it.
We're not developers, we're just golfers."
Mr Kennelly says some
members were not easily convinced but the deal would ensure a quality facility,
he says.
"The other thing is
that as landowners you don't want to be told by anyone else what you can do
with your land. It's as simple as that really."
The plan for Wainui
includes an 18-hole course, driving range and separate nine-hole course and
could open in April 2015.
A hearing date on the
rezoning proposal has yet to be announced.
Submissions oppose golf course land rezoning
24/07/2012
Submissions about rezoning the Peninsula Golf Course have come out overwhelmingly against the proposal.
The proposal involves rezoning the golf club's land from urban future to medium intensity residential, which would enable a proposed redevelopment of the land with up to 520 houses.
Of the 621 submissions on the plan change, 34 approved, while 587 opposed it. Of the latter, 41 submitters wanted further amendments if the plan change was not declined. Reasons given in submissions against the proposal included the loss of green space, noise and dust, loss of views and serenity, reduced property values, increased traffic and a strain on infrastructure and existing facilities resulting from an increased population.
Reasons in favour of the proposal included appropriate zoning to prevent urban sprawl, having a new championship golf course, the creation of public reserves, improvements to stormwater controls and the potential for an increased population to improve public transport.
In 2009, golf club members voted to sell their land to Peninsula Land Development which would subdivide the land, pending rezoning. The agreement involved swapping the land for $12 million and a new golf course in Wainui. But the proposal has caused friction between supporters and residents. A campaigner against the proposal John Kirikiri says submission results are no surprise. Mr Kirikiri, a Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member, points to concerns about the "loss of enjoyment and amenity value" to residents - especially Hibiscus Hospice, the lack of Auckland Council infrastructure to enable the development and the lack of transport infrastructure such as Penlink that the council has deferred.
Mr Kirikiri says whoever loses this battle under the Resource Management Act will most likely appeal to the Environment Court.
"After all, the Environment Court has been planning Rodney for the last 20 years which is evident by the ad hoc development of Silverdale," he says.
"There is nothing the Red Beach community can do now except play out this Resource Management charade with the odds stacked in favour of developments like these, prescribed by elected puppets from Queen St."
Further submissions may be made on original submissions, no later than Thursday.
**********************************
Housing
approval likely
26/03/2013
Development of the Peninsula Golf Course is a step
closer.
A 156-page report by Auckland Council
consultant engineer Robert Scott says the plan change from Future Urban to
Residential M (medium intensity) should be approved, provided certain
conditions are met.
This means up to 520 mixed density
homes can be built at Red Beach's Peninsula Golf Club site at 65 Hibiscus Coast
Highway, after it is rezoned.
In exchange, the club gets a
custom-built course on 81 hectares at Wainui.
A hearing to consider a private plan
change request (Private Plan Change 159 - Peninsula Golf Course) will be held
from April 9 to 11 from 9.30am at the Orewa Service Centre, 50 Centreway Rd.
Chairwoman Pamela Peters and
commissioners Bill Smith and David Mead will make a final decision on the plan
change after the hearing.
"The golf club is happy with the
Auckland Council planning consultant's report which recommends the plan change
be approved," Peninsula Land Development planning consultant Ian McAlley
says.
"We are looking forward to the
hearing."
Peninsula Land Development has a
contract with the Peninsula Golf Club and will make their application on the
first day of the hearing.
About 621 submissions were received.
About 35 submitters were in favour of the plan change and 586 asked for it to
be declined.
Red Beach School, the Hibiscus Hospice
and residents at Hibiscus Coast Village were among the objectors.
Submission issues include
transportation effects, the development's staging, wastewater and stormwater
impacts, loss of open space, density, public reserves provision, tree retention
and relocation, and the setback from adjoining development.
The request for the plan change was
considered by the regional development and operations committee on December 15,
2011, and it agreed to accept the request for processing and the plan change
was notified on April 12 with submissions closing in the middle of last year.
Consultant planner Robert Scott says
the plan change should be approved.
He says the request satisfies section
32 of the Resource Management Act and adverse effects on the environment will
be minor.
Mr Scott says the plan change is
consistent with the non-statutory Auckland Plan with regard to additional urban
development in the Red Beach and Orewa area.
******************************************
Golfer takes driver to
development plan
26/03/2013
FRANK APPROACH:
Frank Butler hopes the
view from his balcony does not change from a golf course to four storey’s of
housing
One of those leading
objections to the Peninsula Golf Club development is a club member himself.
Frank
Butler opposes the plan, despite being a keen club golfer for 25 years.
The
85-year-old has lived next to the golf course for 25 years, and moved into the
Hibiscus Coast Village 12 years ago. There is a vista of the fifth green from
his balcony - a view which would take in a four-storey development if the plan
goes ahead.
In
June 2009, golf club members voted to sell their land to Peninsula Land
Development, which would subdivide the land, pending rezoning to medium
residential.
The
agreement involved the parties swapping the site for $12 million and a new golf
course in Wainui.
But
some members are still siding with residents, who largely oppose the project.
Mr
Butler has organised public meetings, but he says it is not just for his own
benefit.
As a keen
golfer, he can see the other side of the argument. He understands why the club
would like to move - there is a lot of money being offered, for one thing. But
he is concerned for his fellow village residents, and others in Red Beach, with
the potential strain on infrastructure.
He
cites increased traffic, wastewater and sewerage system overload concerns and
an increased burden on schools among the possible side effects.
There
are also environmental concerns, and a vastly changed environment for those at
the village.
"There's
going to be the removal of about 500 trees. It will be bare land and you can
imagine the dust when building all these houses," Mr Butler says.
He has
applied for speaking time at the hearing, where he plans to object. But if the
development goes ahead, he has a "fall back position" - a green belt
along the edge of the development, next to the village.
Mr
Butler says if the club moves to a new site in Wainui, he will probably have to
give up the sport he loves.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/8469297/Golfer-takes-driver-to-development-plan
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/8469297/Golfer-takes-driver-to-development-plan
********************************************
Hearings on club housing
05/04/2013
The plan to turn the Peninsula Golf Club's course into more than 500 sites for homes goes before Auckland Council commissioners next week.
Hearings will be held at the Orewa council
chambers from Tuesday until Thursday next week.
In June 2009, golf club members voted to sell
their land to Peninsula Land Development which would subdivide the land,
pending rezoning to medium residential.
The agreement involved the parties swapping
the site for $12 million and a new golf course in Wainui.
But there are more than 600 submissions
against the proposal, with concerns centering on environmental issues and a
perceived strain on infrastructure, including traffic, wastewater and the
sewerage system.
Among those campaigning against the plan are
golf club member Frank Butler and Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member John
Kirikiri.
The proposal seeks to rezone the site from
Future Urban to Residential M (medium intensity), which would allow for up to
520 residential lots.
Currently, the golf club has 44 hectares
overlooking Red Beach.
At the hearing, the case for the proposal
will be presented before submitters - for and against the application - are
called upon to speak.
The hearing panel will then deliberate
"in committee" and make its decision by way of a formal resolution.
***********************************************
Plan
Change 159 Hearings Packed
11/04/2013
A plan
to develop the Peninsula Golf Club is being seen as a foregone conclusion by
some despite passionate opposition.
Hearings have been held this week for the proposed
redevelopment of the Peninsula Golf Club in Red Beach and a decision by
commissioners is due today.
Submitters and residents packed the Auckland Council Orewa
Service Centre on the first day largely in opposition to the proposal - but
some are conceding they are now simply fighting for conditions.
Developer PLDL proposes to subdivide the golf course,
pending rezoning, and make way for more than 500 residential lots in Red Beach.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member John Kirikiri
believes the hearing was simply "going through the motions" with the
applicant's success inevitable.
The best that objectors can hope for now is to attach
conditions, he says.
Some submissions have also been withdrawn, as their
concerns were appeased, such as one from Hibiscus Hospice.
But others have vehemently opposed the plan and after
sitting through the formalities were due to express their views in chambers
yesterday and today.
One submitter was prepared to sit through as much of the
three days as possible in order to be well prepared when it was her turn to
speak.
Christine Frantzen of Red Beach has been an opponent of
the plan and with husband Nick set up the Save Red Beach website.
"The applicants have made a number of assumptions
about the submitters. We are not opposed to change but it has to be change for
the better," Mrs Frantzen says.
In June 2009, golf club members voted to sell their land
to Peninsula Land Development Ltd, which would subdivide the land, pending
rezoning. That company has been refashioned as PLDL Ltd.
The agreement involved swapping the site for $12 million
and a new golf course in Wainui.
***********************************************
Red Beach
resigned
26/04/2013
A "shell shocked" community seems resigned to
the redevelopment of Red Beach, with questions now turning to conditions - and
timing.
Peninsula Land Development Ltd's
proposal for a residential development of the Peninsula Golf Club, known as
Plan Change 159, received a hearing in Orewa earlier this month.
Hundreds of submissions opposed the
proposal and many of those who made them packed the Orewa Service Centre for
the hearing.
But there seems to be resignation that
the plan will go ahead despite the commissioners' decision still pending.
"I think the Red Beach community
is shell shocked by this proposed development," Hibiscus and Bays Local
Board member John Kirikiri says.
"Nobody likes these things thrust
onto them leaving behind a very sour taste and an intrinsic feeling of
helplessness."
Commissioners have a maximum period of
two years for a decision on a plan change from the date of notification. That
would jeopardise the developer's plans of beginning stage one in October.
But PLDL director Ian McAlley expects
the decision within "the next one to two months" and Auckland Council
committee secretary Wendy Stephenson also says it should come sooner rather
than later. Mr Kirikiri agrees that "two years does sound a long way
off", but he also says an October start is too soon.
He says there needs to be more clarity
about how the plan will mitigate the environmental effects of the development.
After the hearing there seemed to be more
questions than answers about factors such as transport impacts, stormwater
retention and the provision for reserves, Mr Kirikiri says.
"Remember there is still the
resource consents needed to do the work as well. And if there is an appeal then
that must be heard in the Environment Court, which means time delays," Mr
Kirikiri says.
"So October 2013 construction
season is, in my opinion, too soon to be making a start in Red Reach.
Especially as the work programme necessitates starting the golf course development
first in Wainui."
But Mr Kirikiri says the development is
inevitable so it is important that the list of conditions to mitigate the
community's concern is robust and complied with.
Those conditions include a green belt
buffer between existing residences and the new development, as proposed by
vehement plan opponent Frank Butler, a resident of the Hibiscus Coast Village.
Mr Butler is also among those who
expect to lose the battle over the plan, but he is confident of attaining a
"fall-back position".
**************************************
Red
Beach changing
13/08/2013
The proposed private plan
change 159 for the development of the 45-hectare Peninsula Golf Course into a residential
area has just received the stamp of approval by Auckland Council's independent
commissioners.
This will add 520 new homes to
the suburb, so residents should expect around 1600 new neighbours.
The zone will change from
Future Urban to Medium Density in the district plan.
Considered a major win by
developers, PLDL and golf club members will now be looking at the new club
development site in Wainui for the next step forward.
"We are very pleased at
the outcome and the changes the commissioners made. If no one appeals the
decision in the next 30 days it will become operative," PLDL director Ian
McAlley says.
"We have made resource
applications with the council already for the Wainui golf course and are
working through those now, we are going towards starting earthworks in
October."
Mr McAlley says the new golf
course will take around two years to build and has to be complete before they
can start on the Red Beach site.
For the number of Red Beach
residents who opposed the development the decision was a major loss, although
many were not surprised.
"It's disappointing to say
the least, but we knew that was probably going to happen," Red Beach
resident and opponent of the plan Christine Frantzen says.
"It's going to change Red
Beach."
"I think it was inevitable
that it will ultimately go through," opponent and Hibiscus Coast Village
resident Frank Butler says.
"They have put
restrictions on the number of houses until connection roads are done.
"They also included a
greenbelt.
"That was always my
fall-back position if I couldn't get it scrubbed altogether," he says.
A number of concerns surfaced
during hearings including potential effects on infrastructure.
"It still remains to be
seen if Auckland Council's experts are right about the mitigated stormwater effects
on the site itself and that it does not cause adverse effects downstream,"
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member John Kirikiri says.
Mr Kirkiri says one positive
outcome is the plan for traffic signals at the intersection of Bay St and Red
Beach Rd to address pedestrian traffic.
***************************
Club votes on changes
12/12/2013
Changes to the
Peninsula Golf Club development project have caused ripples among club members.
The club voted at
a meeting on Monday to vary the "walk off-walk on agreement" it had
with developers PLDL.
The club is
effectively swapping its Red Beach site with a new one being built by
developers in Wainui, along with an exchange of cash.
After 187 members
voted in favour, the club will now allow developers to work on stage 1, 2A and
2B at the Red Beach site before the other course in Wainui is finished.
Eighty-eight members voted against the proposed changes.
The club's board
had kept the proposed changes under wraps from members while finer details were
being nutted out, causing some alarm.
A petition signed
by members was presented to the board last month calling for a special meeting
for more information.
The board
responded saying it did not feel it was in a position for a meeting until this
week because a number of issues had to be resolved in the proposed changes.
The changes will
see stage 1 released to the developers in January 2015, stage 2A in October
2015 and stage 2B in January 2016.
The proposal
states members will still have a 12-hole course to play with at Red Beach until
January 2016, and a 9-hole course until they leave the site.
The Wainui course
completion date is March 2016, opening in October 2016.
****************************************
Concern
for wildlife over silt-laden stream
May 6 2015
Trevor
Lewis watched as three eels writhed in silt laden water flushing into the Red
Beach stream on Monday morning.
"Two of them managed to find refuge in cleaner water
in a pipe, but one was really struggling to breathe," he says.
The flush appeared to last for about an hour.
Lewis
was one of several people who raised concerns about the silt and its affects on
stream life with the Rodney Times.
Heavy earth moving machines have been working on the 44
hectare Peninsula Golf Course development at Red Beach for about six months
during summer.
The concerns prompted a site inspection by Auckland
Council officers on May 5.
"There
are strict conditions of consent requiring the development to stay within
acceptable sediment discharge levels," Auckland Council compliance manager
Stefan Naude says.
"The site inspection has revealed no pollution
issues. The site is compliant and the development has operated well within the
requirements of consent since its inception," he says.
"Just because the water is discoloured does not mean
the water is polluted,"
As winter approaches, residents along the Red Beach stream
edge are concerned what wet weather will bring.
"We've
been seeing these silted water flows every couple of days for the last few
weeks," Lewis says. The spill on Monday happened after several days of no
rain, he says.
They worry how well measures put in place with the
resource consent will cope when winter rain starts washing over the large
expanse of exposed soil.
The tidal stream flows into the sea next to the Red Beach
Surf Life Saving and Squash Club at the northern end of Red Beach.
At high tide the water is half a metre deep in the open
concrete water course where it runs through the Pinewood Motor Park.
Heavy rain on a high tide can see it spill over the edges
of the concrete canal.
Naude asks residents to contact the council as soon as
they notice problems so council officers can determine whether there has been a
breach.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/68294053/concern-for-wildlife-over-siltladen-stream
***************************
***************************
Peninsula golfers to Omaha's rescue
Last
updated 11:42, May 25 2015
Omaha golfers will soon have full
use of their course again after volunteers laid a new green gifted by the
Peninsula Golf Club.
One of the greens at the
Omaha Beach Golf Club was vandalised, with members facing a $50,000 repair
bill.
The golfing fraternity is
very close-knit, Omaha Beach Golf Club manager John Phillis says. So news of
the green being wrecked by a vehicle doing "donuts" went viral once
it went up on the club's Facebook page and after featuring in the Rodney Times
last week.
"We soon had a call from
the Peninsula Golf Club course superintendent Derek Ross offering his
commiserations and the possibility of letting us have one of their
greens," he says.
The Peninsula club is in
the middle of a staggered move to new grounds at Wainui after selling its Red
Beach land for development.
Due to be finished later
next year, the new club grounds will eventually sport flash new buildings, an
18 hole course, a nine hole par-three course and be open to the public. In the
meantime the club is operating on a nine hole course at Red Beach.
But they do have two
"nursery" greens as backups in case something untoward happens to a
green, manager Karen Osborne says.
At a May 19 meeting the
club board voted to gift one of the nursery greens to the northern club.
"We were happy to
help, and I'm sure they would have done the same for us," Osborne says.
Grateful for the helping
hand, it was all hands on deck the next morning as a team of volunteers from
Omaha cut up the donated green turf, then rolled it up and took it north in
convoy.
"There was quite a lot of
work involved with taking up the old green and then shaping the special sand
used under greens to give them shape. The replacement turf was then laid over
the top," Phillis says.
"We can't thank the
Peninsula Golf Club enough," he says "Players should be able to use
the replacement green in about six weeks."
***************************
Red Beach residential development moving
Last
updated 16:56, September 28 2015
The transformation of the Peninsula Golf Course in Red
Beach into residential housing is well underway with earthmovers, road works
and a fair share of mud on the go.
Stage one of the Fletcher Living development includes major
land contouring, the formation of roads, the input of infrastructure, and the
creation of 84 homes due to come online late next year.
The main transport connection of the final 520-house
development is on to Red Beach Rd, where road works are taking place.
Traffic signals are due to be installed and working at
the four-way intersection by March.
First stage completion will see 2100 additional traffic
movements daily, creating a "less than minor" impact to the
system, Auckland Council traffic experts predict.
A secondary connection is on to Hibiscus Coast Highway
where the Peninsula Golf Course entrance is.
"Planning is still underway and the final traffic
solutions have not yet been determined," Fletcher Living general manager
Ken Lotu-l'iga says.
One of the largest water carts in the country, an 85
tonne machine, is on site dampening the earthworks to help reduce dust.
Complaints from residents regarding silt in the Red Beach stream in May were
investigated by the Auckland Council, but "no pollution issues" were
found.
"We strive to be a good neighbour and reduce our
impact where we can," Lotu-l'iga says.
Stage one of the development will see a mixture of four
to five bedroom standalone homes and three to four bedroom terraced homes in
the mixed-density plan.
The project will include two wetland reserves, a
recreational reserve, family playground and two tree groves.
"Our Red Beach development will have plenty of
shared green spaces and lots of planting. A children's playground with slide
and boulder climb will be a fun space for families and we also have places for
picnics, bird watching and quiet strolls," Lotu-l'iga says.
Stage two of the development will see 165 homes built.
DEVELOPMENT
HISTORY
The Peninsula Golf Course, originally formed in 1956, was
a well-established 18 hole golf course covering almost 45 hectares.
The golf club owns the course and is not subject to any
council ownership or public reserve restriction.
Its site was zoned future urban in the district plan
since the 1980s, but when developers applied for a plan change to turn the area
into housing there was outcry from neighbouring property owners.
The club negotiated with developers to relocate to a new
golf course site with better facilities in Wainui, and released the existing
site for residential development.
The plan change was approved by the Auckland Council in
2013 and Fletcher Living was granted resource consent for a residential
development in December 2014.
*********************************
The Wainui
golf course and multi-sport facility opens to the public
Last updated 08:14, November 3, 2016
To view all photos go to >>> http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/85988931/the-wainui-golf-course-and-multisport-facility-opens-to-the-public
The brand new Wainui multi-sport facility is now open to the public
after two and a half years of construction.
After relocating from Red Beach, north of Auckland, the facility
officially opened to members in July. Now the centre is open to the
public, offering an 18-hole golf course, tennis, netball
and basketball courts and footgolf.
The public can also hire out a room for an event or meeting
and enjoy a meal in Wainui's new restaurant.
RENEE CLAYTON/FAIRFAX NZ
Patron Shirley Bawden enjoying a day of golf at Wainui.
Wainui's general manager Terry Yacyshen is excited to see how
the facility will evolve.
READ MORE:
*Red Beach land row
*Club votes on changes
*Homes may replace golf course
*Red Beach residential development moving
*Golfer takes driver to development plan
*Red Beach land row
*Club votes on changes
*Homes may replace golf course
*Red Beach residential development moving
*Golfer takes driver to development plan
"We currently have around 650 members with us and have had
nearly 100 members join in the last couple of months. We are still looking at
things that we would like to add in the facility. One of these things is a nine
hole golf course that is going to weave through the feijoa orchard," he
says.
RENEE CLAYTON/FAIRFAX NZ
Wainui multi-sport facility is now up and running for the public.
The current Wainui golf course is around an 8km walk through beautiful
scenery.
Patron Shirley Bawden says the new course offers something
special.
SUPPLIED
Wainui golf course.
"I love it and it is easy to walk. It is a beautiful place and
is suitable for all ability levels," she says.
From July 5 members were able to play at Wainui and their guests
were able to play from August, now the public can come along.
Yacyshen says: "We really want to be known as the place where
everyone can come and play and have a meal or beverage. We also want to
support community events and introduce people to the game."
Wainui has plans to put money back into the community and get involved
with local charity initiatives.
"We don't just want to be known as just a golf course, but also a
community space. We are all about living healthy and serve great food and
harvest our own manuka honey and grow our own herbs," he says.
"Golf is a great sport for Kiwis as they are big on walking, also
as it is proven that people who play outdoor sport live a longer life and it is
a great social event."
RENEE CLAYTON/FAIRFAX NZ
Wainui multi-sport facility is now up and running for the public.
*On August 3 2007 the
proposal was put forward from a developer to purchase Peninsula Golf Club land
at Red Beach in exchange for a new golf course and clubhouse to the clubs
specification plus a substantial monetary offer.
*On
September 7 2009 heads of agreement was signed to sell the Peninsula Golf Club
land in exchange for a new course at Wainui.
*In
January 2014 the work at Wainui commenced by Puddicombe Golf.
For more information visit wainui.online.
- Rodney
Times
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/85988931/the-wainui-golf-course-and-multisport-facility-opens-to-the-public
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