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The Howick Local Board fears marine pest species could reach the Tāmaki Estuary as boat cleaning capacity shrinks in Auckland.
Hardstands allow boats to be taken out of the water and cleaned, removing unwanted pests such as the invasive seaweed species caulerpa from the hull.
In the last year, six hardstands have reduced their hull cleaning capacity with three closing their doors entirely.
The Auckland Yachting and Boating Association says the reduction means only 33 per cent of Auckland’s recreational boats can be cleaned annually when they are meant to be cleaned every six months.
Local boards oversee facilities in their area including some marinas and, in February, the Ōrākei Local Board ultimately decided to put their marina, the Landing, up for sale.
At the Planning, Environment and Parks committee this month, the Howick board called on Auckland Council to take a regional approach to the issue as local boards look to sell their assets.
Howick Local Board chair Damien Light said Auckland needs hardstands and haul out facilities around the region so boat owners can access local facilities.
Light said if boats could not be cleaned locally they could be dragging pests across the Hauraki Gulf in order to get to another cleaning facility. The committee was told there were neglected boats across Auckland that were growing their own ecosystems.
