My Account
Auckland Council has abandoned plans for a radical shake-up of Sandspit Wharf area following trenchant opposition from locals (MM Dec 6).
A Council concept plan called for the removal of the information centre/ferry ticket office, demolition of the Sandspit Café, relocation of the toilets and more car parking.
The plan also envisaged that the current carpark attendant’s house would become a multi-use building that would accommodate the ticket office, café and information centre.
In response, the Sandspit Residents and Ratepayers Association (SRRA) organised a survey of residents’ opinions.
Of 113 who responded, 100 were vehemently opposed to the proposals.
Residents complained of poor use of space to create only a few additional carparks, loss of iconic views from the current café and the carpark attendant’s house not being big enough to accommodate the functions envisaged.
Residents were especially opposed to the prospect of Sandspit Reserve being turned into a temporary carpark.
Last week, Council community facilities manager Geoff Pitman wrote to the SRRA saying that the bulk of Council’s proposals did “not gain enough support to warrant progression.”
Nevertheless, he said there was support for the introduction of a shuttle service from Sandspit to Warkworth and the reintroduction of paid parking at Sandspit.
The SRRA supports these initiatives as part of a long-term solution to parking problems around the wharf.
Mr Pitman says these latter proposals would be investigated further in the New Year and, if approved, would ideally be implemented prior to next summer.
In a letter to SRRA members, association chair Greg Doherty said the SRRA committee was delighted with the outcome “of this very controversial matter”.
“We had the opportunity to represent our community and achieve something for the greater good,” he said.
He said the SRRA understood that other community groups affected by the proposals provided similar responses independently of the SRRA view.
