Fitzroy club wants time limit for lease

A New Plymouth golf club which was threatened with losing half of its land to developers has been given reassurance over its future. But members would like to see action sooner rather than later.

New Plymouth District Council’s Planning Committee has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Fitzroy Golf Club. It comes after the council last year considered selling off half the site to urban developers.

The MoU gives the club some direction on the process to get a new lease, but still needs to go before full council.

Club president Nick Northam told Tuesday’s committee meeting they were mostly happy with the proposed MoU, which would give clarity to the club’s future direction. Its current lease runs until 2023. ‘‘One thing I take issue with is we would prefer to have a set time frame, within 18 months of a Memorandum of Understanding being signed, that this matter is finally dealt with and a new lease is signed.’’

Northam said that they were committed to a community facility and mentioned National Trust parks in England, which were open as a public park most Sundays rather than a golf course. ‘‘That’s the flexibility that our members are committed to.’’

Councillors asked about the 18-month time limit and group manager of strategy Liam Hodgetts said it would depend on the public consultation.

‘‘There is a good chance that by July (2019) we’ll be back with an updated plan and a new lease for signing.’’

The committee also approved a district plan update, which includes further work on coastal hazard areas in Onaero to account for sea level rise, and a review on the Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw and the Solid Waste Bylaw.