Slow Progress On Golf Course Access

Slow progress is continuing to be made to resolve future
road access to a Canterbury golf course.

Hurunui
District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said he has
met with members of the Amberley Beach Golf Club to agree to
‘‘a way forward for the consent process’’.

The
18-hole golf course is under threat from coastal erosion,
with the council agreeing in August last year to investigate
extending Grierson Avenue through the narrowest part of a
wetland.

The proposal would secure access to the
club’s course and clubhouse, as well as mahinga kai areas
in the Waimaiaia Reserve, and the Waipara River
mouth.

Mr Dobbie said the club had verbally agreed to
a process and he was waiting for written confirmation from
the club.

The cost of the consenting process and
hiring a consultant would be borne by the council, he
said.

There was no agreement yet on the cost of
purchasing land, but Mr Dobbie said he would be following up
with the land owner.

A report to the council’s May
meeting said staff had met with Environment Canterbury staff
and members of the golf club in April to discuss the
consenting requirements.

An assessment of
environmental effects, an ecological assessment and a
hydrological wetland assessment would be
required.

Constructing a road through a natural inland
wetland was likely to be a non-complying activity under the
National Environmental Standards for Freshwater.

Staff
estimated it would cost $1.155 million to meet the
consenting requirements to build the road.

An
alternative option of linking Webbs and Hursley Terrace
roads with Golf Links Road from the northern end has been
considered.

This option would secure access to most of
the golf course, but not the clubhouse and would reduce the
course to 16 holes.

It would also secure access to the
Waimaiaia Reserve and the Waipara River mouth.

LDR
is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On
Air.

© Scoop Media