Opponents of a controversial plan to bulldoze Canterbury’s Pegasus Golf Course to make manner for tons of of properties have rallied exterior Parliament.
Developer Wolfbrook purchased the 18-hole, 77-hectare golf course in Might and plans to redevelop the land into housing utilizing the federal government’s fast-track consent course of.
The proposal has been met by widespread opposition from locals, Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon, Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey and Labour’s North Canterbury-based record MP Dan Rosewarne.
Pegasus Residents’ Group spokesperson Matt James stated greater than 16,000 folks signed the petition offered to Parliament on Wednesday.
It known as for the mission to not bypass the same old consenting course of.
“Quick-track laws has its place. It is there to facilitate the comparatively fast growth of key vital infrastructure that New Zealand wants. It was by no means there to be a back-door planning course of for residential builders and that is more and more what’s occurring,” James stated.
“Pegasus has roughly 4000 residents however we had over 16,000 folks signal our petition as a result of folks rapidly noticed it as a problem far larger than Pegasus.”
James stated the fast-track course of gave these affected much less alternative to have a say.
“The Waimakariri District Council have executed their planning for the longer term, they did that solely final yr, they’ve recognized the areas of development within the district and Pegasus was by no means on that plan. It would not have to be on that plan,” he stated.
Locals had been persevering with to work with the Waimakariri District Council to purchase the golf course off Wolfbrook, James stated.
A fundraising golf event held at Amberley Golf Membership final weekend had raised about $3000 for the marketing campaign, he stated.
“We’re desperate to defend our trigger. The petition will result in us being invited to attend a choose committee listening to at some stage. Clearly the important thing factor is the belief that Wolfbrook will make their proposal formally very shortly and that may begin the clock ticking for Minister [Chris] Bishop to present a response. We can be ready with bated breath on that.”
Earlier this month James stated Wolfbrook had additional infected tensions by blocking paths and filling holes with concrete on the golf course.
Folks had been dismayed to find the “pointless and infantile” concreted holes after communication broke down between the developer and the broader group, James stated.
In June Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon stated Wolfbrook had notified the council it supposed to make use of the fast-track consenting course of to rezone the land for housing.
“That is disappointing information for the 1000’s of residents and supporters who wish to see this necessary group asset protected,” he stated, on the time.
“Council’s view is evident – developments that sit exterior established development areas, recognized in our not too long ago consulted on and adopted district plan and which have beforehand been thought-about and rejected via district planning or different Useful resource Administration Act processes, shouldn’t be eligible for the fast-track pathway. Nonetheless, any choice on an software will in the end relaxation with the ministers.”
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