Holiday park refuses to budge

A Mangawhai holiday park that has been able to place caravans on a neighbouring reserve is refusing to remove them despite the council's change of heart.
An agreement between the Kaipara District Council and the  Hideaway Holiday Park, which allowed the reserve to be used as an extension to the camping ground, has not been renewed and the council has asked for the reserve to be vacated by May 31.
But Harold Foote, who, with his wife, Hazel, has owned and operated Hideaway Holiday Park since 1992, said there was no way he would be moving the caravans without legal advice.
About six privately-owned caravans are permanently parked on the reserve.
Concerns regarding access to the beach, the public use of the area and future walkway plans have caused the council to reconsider the agreement. 
The refusal to renew the agreement has shocked the park owners, who say they have had no indication from council  it would not be rolled over.
 Mr Foote said the caravans were on site before they bought the park and had  permits from the council for them to be there.
After a complaint in 2002 about caravans encroaching on to the reserve site, the Footes entered into a Licence to Occupy agreement with council in 2003.
The Footes agreed to remove "Private Property - No Public Access or Thoroughfare" signs which they had erected on the beach to deter people using the private camp ground as access to Moir Point Rd and as "measure of security for camping ground".
The renewal request drew some sharp comments from several councillors at last week's meeting.
"They have been flouting the terms for the last seven years," said councillor Tom Smith. He said structures on the reserve were in breach of the agreement and hindered public access.
Councillor Julia Sutherland agreed, saying: "They've been bloody lucky to have used this land as long as they have - move them off." 
 The council asked that the reserve be vacated by May 31 and for all structures to be removed by that time. If this was not done, the structures would be removed at the Footes' expense.