The township of Pegasus and a housing developer look set to go head to head over a beloved golf course, as the community sets up a war chest with the backing of local and national politicians.
A passionate crowd of more than 450 filled the hall to capacity yesterday, as another hundred or so stood outside to listen to the district's mayor, local MP and others discuss developer Wolfbrook's purchase of the 77ha golf course.
But it was the government's Fast Track Act that came under the most scrutiny, with many questions centering on whether developers could overturn existing consents or avoid community consultation using the process.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon told the crowd he found out Wolfbrook had purchased the land the same way they did, through the media.
He said he had since met with the company, and made the council's position clear.
"I thanked Wolfbrook for their offer of helping us with growth and development. I respectfully told them very clearly - very clearly - that we do not need their help."
The mayor said the new district plan already included capacity for plenty of new homes while ensuring the golf course maintained its special designation as part of the country's first master-planned town.
His proposal for the council to put together a consortium to try and buy the golf course back was met with loud applause and cheers from the crowd.
Mayor Gordon urged anyone with the means to partner with the council to come forward.
"There's been a lot of people expressed strongly to me their appetite to help - now's their time to pony up and let me know if there are some viable funding options.
"I'll put those together and then take that proposition back to council for their endorsement."
He said that included any of the other parties who had made offers on the course - he understood there were five others - as well as golfing organisations.
"Anyone who wants to protect the course and the amenity of what it's provided with the beautiful landscape that's there, let me know because we want to have a conversation with you about how we can put together a package and a consortium to safeguard the golf course for the future."
Pegasus Residents' Group president Matt James told the meeting Wolfbrook confirmed yesterday it planned to apply for Fast Track approval.
He said that raised fears the company would seek to override local planning rules, reduce community input, undermine the district plan and the original vision for Pegasus.
He hoped that with bipartisan political support, council, iwi and residents working together, there was a chance they could save the golf course.
"It's still a David and Goliath to some extent, especially from the resident's perspective against the big corporate, but we have to hope that with all these strands pulling together we have an opportunity to turn it around."
James said it was not a matter of NIMBY-ism, or even just about the golf course, and that parts of the town's infrastructure were already strained.
"The medical centre has a waiting list for people to sign up for, the school is close to being at capacity, there are already water drainage issues today, let alone putting a new subdivision in, the people who commute into Christchurch will tell you the roundabout is a major challenge today."
A Parliamentary petition launched days ago by the group had gathered more than 5000 signatures.
Wolfbrook declined to comment, saying it would not be making any statements while it continued to work directly with stakeholders.
Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri representative Tania Wati told the meeting that Ngāi Tahu would be invited to comment on any Fast Track application.
"We are currently involved in every Fast Track that sits in the Canterbury region and most times our comments aren't heard, so be very clear about that."
The iwi's comments were based on both cultural and infrastructural concerns, she said.
"If there's a subdivision that's looking at building 800 houses, we want to better understand where the medical centres are, we want to better understand where the school's going."
Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey said he opposed both the project and the proposed use of the Fast Track Act, and had told infrastructure minister Chris Bishop as much.
"I think there's a real opportunity here to stand up as a council and all you are doing as well, so I'm here tonight to pledge my support.
"I'm not a Fast Track fundamentalist - Fast Track has a place. Technically, it's about speeding up the consenting process. We know things like renewable energy consents have taken on average eight years - too long.
"But actually, there's a time and place when things should not be used in Fast Track, and this is one of them," Doocey said.
Long time resident Melody McCombe and her husband Mike Johnson moved to Pegasus after the Christchurch earthquakes, and said they had never looked back.
The wildlife, outdoors and green space was part of what they loved about the town, as well as the connection to the Kaiapoi Pā and Waitaha urupa for Johnson, who is Ngāi Tahu.
McCombe said there was a huge depth of feeling in the community, something she hoped would be heard in Wellington given the November 6 general election.
"This is a safe National seat - it's like Matt Doocey, listen up! He better listen and make sure Chris Bishop gets the message."
The internationally recognised golf course was an amenity for the wider North Canterbury area and further afield, she said.
"The best way out of this is for the council and investors to buy it."
He felt Wolfbrook may have underestimated the criteria for fast-tracking, as well as the level of opposition from the community.
"I think they're up against it ... I think they'll take a reasonable offer."
The developer has confirmed its intention to rezone the golf course - which currently falls under a Special Purpose Zone (Pegasus Resort) to allow for the hotels and pools once planned for the town - for housing.
Pegasus was devised and sold as New Zealand's first 'master-planned' greenfield town, famously promoted via a massive $7m scale model of an upscale resort development with a supermarket, yacht club and equestrian centre, among other facilities.
Much of that never eventuated after founder Bob Robertson's firm was liquidated in 2012, and the artificial lake has struggled with toxic algal bloom for years, but the 18-hole golf course has long been a drawcard for the township.
Along with neighbouring development Ravenswood and the older town of Woodend, the fast growing triad are predicted to grow to around 14,000 residents in the next 20 years, according to the North Canterbury economic development agency.
