Public digs in to stop local treasure being stolen

19th of September

The public has said enough! This waste of time and public money has to stop – Now.

Tomorrow people are coming from all walks of life to show their support for saving the iconic and irreplaceable Takapuna Beach Holiday Park. The planned Working Bee at 10am on Sunday 20 September is turning into something of a protest against those who are hell–bent on shutting down the Holiday Park and taking over this beachfront public reserve.

“The public is stepping in because the current holiday park operators are unable to invest in expensive upgrades until they know if their lease will be renewed” says Jan Gopperth, spokesperson for the Save Takapuna Beach Holiday Park Supporters Group. “Tomorrow the Holiday Park grounds will be given a make-over, even the campers are helping out. Local businesses have given their support, local nurseries have donated plants, Nomad Coffee is sending their coffee truck to make complimentary coffee for the volunteers and “Stella”, a retro caravan refurbished as a 1950’s American milkshake diner, will also be on site” says Mrs Gopperth.

The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board has been hung for almost 5 years over this issue but it now looks as though the 3 Local Board members who have been listening to the people; Jan O’Connor, Grant Gillon and Mike Cohen, will be joined by Allison Roe to turn the fate of the holiday park around. Allison Rowe narrowly saved the holiday park from the bulldozers when she listened to the people at the pivotal Local Board meeting on 4 August and voted for a further report on possible upgrades. This was following the results of the Council Feedback Poll where an overwhelming 80% voted to save the holiday park against only 8% who were in support of the Yachting NZ development. “This is another example of these four Board Members acting in a manner that encourages and values community involvement in local democracy”, says Gopperth and “it is heart-warming to see that the people are finally being heard”.

Meanwhile, Yachting NZ are still pushing ahead with their Resource Consent Application.

“Now that Joe Bergin, the Local Board Chairman, may have lost the opportunity to continue using his casting vote against the Holiday Park, the Local Board is able to send a strong message to Harbour Access Trust and Yachting NZ that they will decline Land Owner’s Consent and that they should abandon their Resource Consent application and find another site. Almost $1 million of tax-payers money has already been wasted on something the public has clearly stated they don't want”, says Jan Gopperth. “Enough is enough. We will not allow this treasure to be taken against the peoples wishes.”

ENDS

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