Keep Whangaparāoa’s Green Spaces (KWGS) sent a letter to all businesses, real estate firms and developers about their fight to keep the Gulf Harbour Country Club (GHCC) open and zoned as green space.

KWGS represents the Gulf Harbour and Whangaparaoa community in its fight to ensure the club’s land retains its ‘Open Space – Sport and Active Recreation’ zoning.

The organisation was formed in 2021, two years before the country club closed. Their ‘passion runs deep’ as they fight to maintain the original conceptual framework of Gulf Harbour.

“We are writing to you because you may be a potential buyer of some or all of the Gulf Harbour Country Club (GHCC) land or be involved in trying to sell this land,” the undated letter states.

“We are a formidable organisation with resources and capabilities to fight to keep the golf course land zoned Open Space and to ensure Auckland Council upholds the 999-year Encumbrance on the golf course land in favour of the community.”

The letter states that the group will “ramp up their efforts if any party plans to change or attempts to vary or remove the encumbrance.”

“We have appointed barristers and obtained opinions on all matters, and attempts to change the status quo will result in court proceedings.”

Regarding the 999-year Encumbrance, signed in 2006, it states that the Auckland Council has to use the land solely for a golf course and country club.

In addition to the Encumbrance, the 400 neighbouring homeowners were required to sign a covenant in favour of the GHCC. 

“These homeowners, and thousands of residents in Gulf Harbour, rely on the Encumbrance when they purchased their properties. 

“Auckland Council is aware of their responsibilities to these residents, who will suffer if the golf course land is ever developed.” 

The letter openly states that the transport and wastewater infrastructure in Gulf Harbour will not be suitable for housing developments.

“With around 1,000 consented dwellings yet to be built in Gulf Harbour and no prospect of the one road in and out of Gulf Harbour ever being improved, there is no justification for Auckland Council to increase the number of dwellings beyond those already allowed under the Unitary Plan.”

The letter ends off with “any attempts by developers to obtain a change to the zoning of the golf course land will meet fierce opposition from KWGS and the Whangaparaoa community.” 

“No one in the Gulf Harbour or wider Whangaparāoa community wants houses or retirement villages on the golf course land. 

“We can only imagine the damage to your corporate reputation if approval for development is sought by any developers, including Private Plan changes or attempted removal of the Open Space Encumbrance.”