The Auckland Wintergarden in Auckland Domain. Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0 / Antilived
Auckland Council wants more control over Auckland Domain's facilities.
Extending and granting leases for parts of the central city park, such as the Wintergarden Café and the tennis and bowling clubs, currently requires central government approval.
At the council's final meeting before local body elections on Thursday, councillors voted unanimously to propose a bill to amend the Auckland Domain Act 1987.
Mayor Wayne Brown said the current rules were "ridiculous".
"I'm interested in this, my marriage many years ago was celebrated at the Wintergarden Café.
"This appears to be yet another thing where Wellington has interfered with Auckland and we can't even extend the right of the local tennis club to play on the bloody domain, we need 120 MPs in Wellington to decide this."
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said letting the council make leasing decisions would preserve the domain as a public space but encourage continued investment in the park.
"The Domain Act ensures that land cannot be sold or used for residential development and must be retained for public recreation for the benefit of Aucklanders.
"However, the current legislation is a bit restrictive. It doesn't allow for leases to be extended or re-issued once they expire. This creates a real uncertainty for the current tenants and their ability to invest in facilities that benefit the public. If no changes are made, groups that add value to [the] domain could face the prospect of running out of time, even when they have strong community programmes and plans for the future."
She said Auckland Bowling Club, the oldest bowling club in the country had recently invested $300,000 in a new lawn at the domain, and had planned to invest $2 million for an all weather cover.
"Their current lease only has seven years left, and without certainty they cannot commit further investment."
The council said three of the domain's existing community lessees, the bowling club, Tennis Auckland, and Parnell Lawn Tennis Club expressed support for the council's proposal.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
