A North Canterbury council has been accused of ‘‘kicking the can down the road’’ in its efforts to secure access to a golf course threatened by coastal erosion.
The Hurunui District Council voted to instruct staff to provide a report to its November council meeting, comparing options for road access to the Amberley Beach Golf Club and to engage with the Amberley Beach community, at a council meeting on Tuesday, September 30.
The new road would also provide access to Waimaiaia 899 Reserve, the mouth of the Waipara River and the northern beach. But a delegation from the golf club expressed frustration at the delays in the process.
‘‘We need to move forward,’’ club spokesperson Paul Wylie told councillors.
‘‘Asking staff to go away and do further investigation is kicking the can down the road.’’
The club approached the council three years ago seeking a new access road to its golf course. Golf Links Road had been under threat from coastal erosion for sometime, and road access was temporarily lost following the King’s Birthday weekend storm event.
The council received a consent from Environment Canterbury in June for the golf club’s preferred option of an extension to Griersons Road in Amberley, which would allow club members access to their club house and all 18 holes.
Mr Wylie said the club had been regular contact with the Amberley Beach Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association and understood the association was supportive of the road, so he did not see the need for further consultation.
Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said engagement with the association was required under the council’s Amberley Beach Coastal Adaptation Plan, an agreement between the council and local residents.
‘‘Going ahead with the project is not contingent on it, it’s just about asking them their view so we understand it when making the final decision.’’
But Amberley Beach resident Paula Le Compte said the association wrote to the council on Friday asking for a pause on the coastal adaptation plan as ‘‘communication has broken down’’.
‘‘The media is not the forum for telling us, as the impacted parties, what’s going on.’’
Councillors voted 8-1 in favour of the council report, with councillor Vanessa McPherson voting against it and Cr Pauline White abstaining.
The pair said they believed the council had already done enough to meet its obligations under the Local Government Act, while the golf club was not a party to the coastal adaptation plan, so it should not be considered.
Cr Fiona Harris said receiving a report in November ‘‘is not really a delay, so I don’t see the issue’’.
Deputy Mayor Vince Daley said given the project is estimated to cost $1.4m and is unbudgeted, he wanted to see all the relevant information before making a final decision.
Mayor Marie Black said the project is important to the community.
‘‘A significant amount of time and effort has been invested in this process already, and there’s just a small amount of work to do to achieve an enduring result.’’
