Lease hearing for park’s clubs
The debate over the move of a North Auckland pony club and scheduled national hockey facility is not yet over.
Submitters have been presenting to an independent hearings panel from October 17-18 to discuss the new community leases at Rosedale Park and elsewhere, which would see Rosedale Pony Club move to Greenhithe and Harbour Hockey build a four turfs and a stadium in its place.
The hearings represent the final stage in the notification process, before a recommendation is made to the Upper Harbour Local Board.
Almost 20 submitters spoke at the hearing, including representatives from New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), Watercare, Harbour Hockey, Rosedale Pony Club, Albany United Football Club, North Harbour BMX and the Alexandra Stream Residents’ Association.
More than 600 submissions were received regarding the community lease notification.
Ninety-six per cent of submissions were made by individuals, with 94 per cent agreeing with the proposed lease for Harbour Hockey’s new facility at Rosedale Park. If it goes ahead, the proposal would see Rosedale Pony Club move to Wainoni Park in Greenhithe. North Harbour BMX would move to Hooton Reserve in Albany.
At the hearing, submitters gave reasons to approve the leases, such as having a centralised model to connect both on and off the field, ‘‘futureproofing’’ the sport, and the creation of a national hockey centre which was originally due to be completed in 2016 but delayed due to the Northern Corridor Improvements Project (NCI).
Affected residents and business owners spoke out against the loss of green space, potential visual and traffic impacts and lack of reprieve from the club’s activity which would run seven days a week for up to 16 hours a day.
Public notification of the leases was approved in May with a casting vote from Upper Harbour Local Board chairwoman, Lisa Whyte. At that time, it was also agreed an independent hearings panel be appointed.
Currently based off Paul Matthews Rd, Harbour Hockey has to find a new premises due to loss of land from the NCI Project.
Public deliberations are intended to be conducted by the panel on October 26, and a recommendation will then be made.