A Reprieve for Iconic Holiday Park

In a move welcomed by the local community, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board voted this week to go ahead with a public poll to help them decide the future of the Takapuna Beach Holiday Park. A Resource Consent Application by HAT/Yachting NZ is already in the pipeline for the land that has been occupied for the Takapuna Beach Holiday Park for almost 100 years.

This is the most contentious issue the present Local Board has faced and the latest move is seen as a positive step by the Save Takapuna Beach Holiday Park supporters group who filled the Local Board Chamber to capacity during the Local Board meeting earlier this week. Speakers in support of the holiday park, Tom Logan and Gavin Sheehan gave compelling arguments which were well received by the audience. Not everyone was able to hear them though as many holiday park supporters were unable to fit inside the Council Chambers and stood in the hallway hoping for a chance to enter the Chamber as people left.

Voting was split on whether or not to hold the poll: 3 for and 2 against. Board member Grant Gillon said “There are two applications on the table for the land – one for Resource Consent from HAT/Yachting NZ, which also requires land owner’s consent, and one that is an application for a lease from the holiday park. Therefore the board has no choice but to consult otherwise they will be on shaky ground”. Mr Gillon went on to say that “there seem to be some entities at work that make the whole process unfair on the community". The Board should not be afraid of being informed by public opinion. It can’t make decisions unless fully informed, he said.

Board member Jan O’Connor tabled approximately 400 emails from people opposed to the HAT/Yachting NZ development and asking the Local Board to save the historic Holiday Park.

ENDS

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