Takapuna Beach Business Association Draws Line in Sand on Holiday Park Plans

Takapuna, 25 July 2017 - Takapuna Beach Business Association, (TBBA) that represents the commercial and economic development interests of Takapuna, has unanimously “drawn a line in the sand” on the ongoing and often controversial future usage plans of the Takapuna Beach Holiday Park.

Following a recent board meeting, TBBA Chairman, Julian Brown said “the TBBA supports the use of open spaces and recognises that as Auckland continues to grow, this will become more important over time.” It is anticipated that Takapuna residents will increase from 3,200 to 15,000 and workers from 8,000 to 15,000 by 2040. This does not account for the further, and significant increases in visitors to Takapuna who are bestrepresented by the incremental 440,000* transactions in the local economy in the 2 years to 31 March 2017 which represents 11% growth. (*Marketview report 31/3/2017)

Mr Brown noted that organisations such as the TBBA had a responsibility to consider the best use of the community’s resources for future generations of residents, visitors and workers. This view has been well vocalised by wider community groups as well as being deemed a strategic priority by the Devonport and Takapuna Local Board.

Mr Brown cites open public space projects such as Hurstmere Green and the beach reserve playground development as an excellent demonstration of what can be done and the enormously positive impact they have on Takapuna for locals, workers and in attracting visitors to the region.

Whilst the TBBA Board is opposed to any continued commercial operations of the Takapuna Holiday Park that effectively removes public access to the space occupied by the Holiday Park, given that the decision to allow a renewal of a lease has been made, the TBBA board wishes to publicly clarify its position on this lease renewal.

The TBBA board strongly opposes any lease that effectively restricts public access to the public open space occupied by the commercial operations of the Takapuna Holiday Park for any significant period and further, recommends a much shorter and much more flexible lease option.

“Takapuna’s reserves are hugely popular in the summer allowing Takapuna to host a multitude of sporting and cultural events, although this capacity is already being tested and the beach can’t always be relied upon due to the nature of tides” said the TBBA Deputy Chairman Greg Young. “Placing the land utilised by the Takapuna Holiday Park back into public access is already necessary in order to meet current requirements, a long term lease therefore would be counterintuitivegiven the projected growth of Takapuna” said Young.

Considering that the opportunity to create further open spaces in the area is very limited, the TBBA is committed to protecting Takapuna’s unique position in so much as it offers a highly desirable mix for visitors and locals to shop, work and be active.

A commissioner is to be appointed to review around 1240 submissions that have been made in relation to the future of the land space currently occupied by the Takapuna Beach Holiday Park andwill report back to the local board with findings and recommendations following this process.

www.ilovetakapuna.co.nz

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