The Hastings Golf Club is pinning its hopes on becoming part of the Napier Hastings Future Development Strategy.
The club, situated on an 82-hectare site on Maraekakaho Road near Bridge Pa, has been seeking Hastings District Council (HDC) consent for a development that would include 130 to 150 residential units.
To do that requires a zone change from Plains Production to what the club calls the Heretaunga Golf Tourism Zone. HDC has advised the golf club that it would be early 2025 before it could consider its private plan change for rezoning.
The golf club first engaged with course designers and tourism operators Golf Sport Development Limited Partnership in 2018 and has revised its development plans seven times since 2022.
“An application has been lodged by Golf Sport Development Limited Partnership to change the zoning of the land to provide for golf-based tourism,’’ HDC said in a statement to BayBuzz. “Council sought further information before formally accepting the plan change request and notifying it. The further information has been received but Council is having one of the assessment reports peer reviewed. Once this information is back we will proceed with notification.’’
In the meantime the golf club is also trying its luck with the Future Development Strategy (FDS), which is a partnership between the Napier City Council, Hastings District Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Maungaharuru Tangitu, Mana Ahuriri Trust and the Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust.
The FDS is designed to guide development across the region for the next 30 years. A request has been lodged under the FDS that the golf club land be identified as an area suitable for residential development, which would significantly improve its prospects of being granted the private plan change by HDC.
“Council’s review is part of a robust process that we must respect and await the outcome of before understanding the next steps,’’ says Ryan Brandeburg of Golf Sport Development Limited Partnership. “Nevertheless, we are very excited about the proposal, and if approved, are confident it will provide significant benefits to the golf club and the Hasting District.
“We are also aware of the FDS currently being developed jointly by the Napier and Hastings District Councils, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, and local iwi and hapu. We participated in the opportunity for community input in late 2023 and we look forward to reading the draft FDS, which we understand is due for release in August.’’
Once the draft FDS is released, submissions will be heard in October ahead of final confirmation of the FDS in December.
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Hmm…wonder how this will impact on the water allocation for the area; and especially for the residents of Bridge Pa whose waterways have dried up due in part to increased water take by local vineyards as well as someone deciding that his need is greater than theirs.
Most of us residents are of the belief, that the fertile lands of the Heretaunga plains cannot be built on for residential purposes, if this gets approval at any stage, the flood gates will not only open but will be washed away!!