Amberley golfers have vented their frustrations at the lack of progress in resolving road access to their golf course.
Representatives of the Amberley Beach Golf Club made a submission during the Hurunui District Council’s 2024/34 Long Term Plan hearing yesterday, calling on the council to take action.
The road proposal aimed to provide future access to the golf course as it faced the threat of coastal erosion.
The golfers reminded the council of its commitment in August last year to investigate extending Grierson Ave through the narrowest part of a wetland.
This proposal would secure access to the club’s course and clubhouse, as well as mahinga kai areas in the Waimaiaia Reserve, and the Waipara River mouth.
Club president Bruce Yates said he had expected provision to be made in the Long Term Plan.
"Taken at face value, it appears the council plan is to do nothing," he said. "This inaction is unacceptable to the club."
Yates said the club had made its own enquiries and had provided survey plans to council staff.
Affected landowners had indicated they were willing to sell land and a contractor has provided an estimate of road construction costs.
Conversations had also been held with Environment Canterbury staff, he said.
"Provided the council can act promptly, a consent should be possible to secure access at a reasonable cost and without any undue delay," Yates said.
"There can no longer be any doubt that the Grierson Avenue extension option is far and away both the best and the cheapest option."
A map showing possible options to secure access to the Amberley Beach Golf Club’s course. The golf club’s Grierson Avenue option is in red, while the council’s alternative is in orange. (Source: Supplied / Hurunui District Council)
The council agreed to investigate extending Grierson Ave after hearing from a delegation of 50 golfers at a council meeting in August last year.
It was against the advice from council chief executive Hamish Dobbie, who had proposed linking Webbs and Hursley Terrace roads with Golf Links Rd from the northern end.
This option would secure access to most of the golf course but not the clubhouse and would have reduced the course to 16 holes.
It would also have secured access to the Waimaiaia Reserve and the Waipara River mouth.
In March, Environment Canterbury confirmed pre-consent application discussions were being held with the Hurunui District Council, to consider extending Grierson Ave.
Erosion is a long term problem for the Amberley Beach settlement.
The council has made provision to replenish the coastal bund at Amberley Beach in the 2024/25 financial year.
Last week the council agreed in principle to support a residents’ proposal to debt fund the cost of building a new bund, as part of its Amberley Beach Coastal Adaptation Plan.
A bund is a type of embankment which protected against the sea.
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