The ownership of Auckland Council's 13 golf courses is "back in the spotlight" with its fairways, greens and bunkers worth more than NZ$2B ($1.3B) if they "went on the open market for development," according to Anne Gibson of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. Using ratepayer-owned golf courses for homes is "often floated by housing advocates, though this falls flat with clubs and their members." Auckland's councilors are being called to a workshop behind closed doors scheduled for July 24 "to be briefed on future plans for 13 council-owned golf courses," where half of the leases will expire between '21 and '26. Other courses have leases running until '94. A report from the council late last year pointed out that land used for golfing "can be better utilised [from a wider community benefit perspective] than in their current state." The council mentioned 43.65-hectare Takapuna Golf Course as an "illustrative example" of where the land could be "reshaped and allow for affordable housing and public parks while still allowing a playing course." A spokesperson for Takapuna Golf Course said that there had been "little discussion about any sale," adding, "But we would be unhappy about it. We don't want it to be sold" (NZ HERALD, 7/10).
