July 27, 2017 — Our petition to save Chamberlain Park from needless and costly redevelopment was today presented to Auckland Council supported by 70 odd golfers and non-golfers. The petition attracted nearly 6,000 signatures opposing the redevelopment. Our group, Save Chamberlain Park Inc, filed judicial review proceedings in the High Court at Auckland on 30 May challenging the decision-making of the Local Board, and the consultation process it carried out.

Chamberlain Park has allowed public access to the game of golf for 78 years and has been open to anyone and everyone during that time. It is affordable and blind to all social distinctions, and is one of only two public 18-hole golf courses serving the Auckland region. With well over 50,000 rounds played there each year, Chamberlain Park is self-funding; in fact for the past three years it has been profitable.

The Herald has described Chamberlain Park as a city gem. “We believe it is not spare land and its future should not be determined by the narrow and flawed thinking of a profligate local board”, says Geoff Senescall, Chair of Save Chamberlain Park Inc. “Our group would like to see proper consideration and genuine consultation in the interests of preserving and enhancing this precious regional and community asset. Cutting it in half, and effectively killing it, is not the right way to achieve this. Surely our green spaces will become even more valuable and important as the city intensifies and the population swells.
"The local board wants to spend $30 million of rate payer money on its plans. We have submitted an alternative vision for Chamberlain Park to Council Staff and the Local Board that could be self funding if done right. Our vision allows for restoration of Meola Creek, retention of the 18 -hole golf course and increased public access to the space. But we have been ignored."

In 2014 534 people signed a petition to keep Chamberlain Park as it is but it was ignored. With nearly 6,000 signatures in 2017, surely it will be harder to ignore.