Geoff Senescall

Proposed carve-up of public golf course highlights flaw in Super City structure, writes

One tragic outcome of the recent council elections is that the iconic Chamberlain Park 18-hole public golf course is being fast-tracked for the chop. Wasting no time post elections the City Vision-led Albert Eden Local Board has signalled work will begin within 12 months on its $30 million redevelopment plan that will eventually see the course cut in half.

People who don’t play golf might well think this is a big chunk of dirt 10 minutes from the city centre that could be used for other purposes. The accompanying argument goes something like “golf is an elitist sport played by rich people with too much time”. This rhetoric certainly sits well with City Vision who are championing the chop at Chamberlain.

Disappointingly, it appears the newly elected mayor, Phil Goff, supports using ratepayer money to redevelop the park in spite of the enormous task ahead to slash costs and curb future rates rises.

Goff might be excused a victorious rush of blood to the head. But it is ironic that the first target for this former Labour leader is not the wealthy private golf clubs, which the new mayor has already