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The almost 30-year-old Club – together with Far North Holdings Ltd - applied to the Northland Regional and Far North District Councils for the consents needed to replace its clubrooms adjacent to the Opua Marina.

The consents relate to the construction of new clubrooms atop an approximately 400 square metre piled deck, as well as allowing for temporary use of the existing clubrooms for storage and office space and providing for parking.

A three-member Joint Hearings Committee of the two Councils heard the applications in Opua last month, releasing its decision yesterday (Thurs 5 May).

Committee members were Regional Council member Mark Farnsworth (Committee Chairman), Regional Councillor Jim Peters and independent Commissioner Alan Watson (for the Far North District Council).

Mr Farnsworth says the new clubrooms will be a “large improvement” on the existing facilities, which are widely used by the community.

“In considering adverse environmental effects, the Joint Hearings Committee was presented with no evidence that demonstrated that any adverse environmental effects would arise as a result of the proposal.”

The Committee is also satisfied with vehicle parking arrangements and considers the proposed building will have no real effect on public access to the coastal marine area.

Mr Farnsworth says a fundamental part of the consents is a requirement to remove the existing clubrooms within two years of their replacement to provide a proposed open green space.

The Regional Council granted consents to build the new clubrooms and deck and to discharge stormwater from them. Those consents run until 31 December 2038.

Meanwhile, the Far North District Council issued consent to build the parts of the clubrooms and deck that will be above mean high water springs. Its consents also allow use of the existing club building for office and storage facilities for up to two years after the new building is completed and provide for 14 club carparks and a rearrangement of existing parking in the area.