Far North District Council answers on use of Perehipe reserve

The northern end of Tokerau Beach, with the Perehipe reserve behind the trees to the left.

Annie Tothill received answers from the Far North District Council to questions regarding Whatuwhiwhi's Perehipe reserve on Friday, a month after she lodged them.

"I had hoped to have a response prior to the close of submissions, " she said, referring to the consultation process the council embarked upon in response to strong public criticism of the informal arrangement between the council and the Whatuwhiwhi Top 10 Holiday Park for the latter to use the reserve as an extension of its camp ground.

Ms Tothill's questions, lodged under the Official Information Act, and the council's answers, were as follows.

Q: According to FNDC records, how long has the 'informal arrangement' between either Council or the community board and Whatuwhiwhi Top 10 Holiday Park been in place?
A: Since 2011.

Q: Is there a record of either council or the community board consulting with the community or iwi previously on the matter of any alternative use of the Perehipe reserve?
A: No.

Q: In previous decisions that relate to this 'informal arrangement' between either council or the community board and Whatuwhiwhi Top 10 Holiday Park, allowing the camp to utilise the reserve for overflow campers during peak periods, was any consideration ever given to the other main camp ground in the area within approximately 5km, on Tokerau Beach?
A: The informal agreement was initiated by the owners of the holiday Park. The council had not actively sought any potential alternative use of the reserve.

Q: With regard to improvements erected by the previous owners of the camp, which appeared to include buildings, a concrete pad, powered camp sites, a playground and a fence, what consent processes (inclusive of resource consent) were undertaken by FNDC and the camp owners, and when?
A: The council had a record of all applicable consents required for the toilet block that had been built on the reserve. It received a code of compliance certificate in October 2016. Consents for any remaining structures on the reserve were likely not required under the district plan rules.