Concrete-filled golf holes deepen Pegasus development dispute

Residents opposed to a controversial housing plan for Canterbury's Pegasus Gold Course say the developer has further inflamed tensions by blocking paths and filling holes with concrete.

Wolfbrook's plan to redevelop the course for housing has resulted in fierce backlash from locals, with a petition calling for the project not to progress through the Fast-track approvals process attracting 16,000 signatures in a month.

Pegasus Residents Group president Matt James said people were dismayed to discover the "unnecessary and childish" concreted holes this week after communication broke down between the developer and the wider community.

"It's their land. They can do what they want. They've done nothing illegal but it was an unnecessary action and a very upset community has just got even more upset and enraged," he said.

James said chains and barriers had also appeared across paths and access points with no warning.

Locals were worried that someone would be injured, he said.

"Communities have used the pathways and walkways to get from one side of Pegasus to the other as long as Pegasus has existed. Pegasus Golf Course is actually bisected by the main road and there's an underpass and a lot of the kids on bikes or skateboards or scooters scoot down under the underpass. Now there are chains across that, which are quite small diameter chains, and there was no notice, no warning," he said.

RNZ has contacted Wolfbrook for comment.

Last week the company notified the council that it intended to use the Fast-track consenting process to rezone the land for housing.

When it first purchased the course, James said residents were assured that Wolfbrook would approach the future of the property in a respectful and considered manner.

"The way they've done things has not been very conciliatory. It's been quite unpleasant, really," he said.

The developer had spoken with some directly affected people but its engagement with the wider community had been limited, James said.

The residents group remained open to future conversations, including if Wolfbrook's fast-track application was unsuccessful, he said.

"Maybe we can talk about taking it off their hands if it's not an investment that's going to work out for them," he said.

Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon earlier urged the minister responsible for fast-track approvals to reject any application for referral from Wolfbrook.

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey told residents he opposed both the project and the proposed use of the Fast-track Approvals Act.