Hammerhead concerns

Keeping the Gulf Harbour Hammerhead for public use by buying back a potential lease would be the best possible outcome, Albany Ward councillor Wayne Walker says.

Independent hearing commissioners granted consent for the council owned site to be subdivided by Gulf Harbour Investments on July 13. Previous High Court rulings meant commissioners had little option but to give consent. Proponents sought assurances free public access would be retained.

Commissioners say under the Empowering Act public have the right of access, however it noted the act doesn’t define ‘‘public access’’, and imposed a condition that temporary public access is not restricted.

The decision didn’t give real clarity, local board chairwoman Julia Parfitt says.

‘‘It says you can have temporary access on to the Hammerhead, but it doesn’t says whether they can charge for the access.’’

Councillors Wayne Walker and John Watson are waiting for the three week decision appeal period to expire to see if further arguments are heard before meeting with the community to plan their next steps. ’’The ideal situation is to have a successful negotiation for the council to buy the potential lease. Or a related prospect is for the council to use the Public Works Act to acquire the potential lease,’’ Walker says.

Worries access to the ferry terminal, boat ramp and car parking at Gulf Harbour could be denied or become user pays are mounting.