My Account
Local councillors, from left, John Watson and Wayne Walker, say it is a satisfying end to a 20-year battle.
A deal between Auckland Council and Gulf Harbour Investments (GHIL) has removed the threat of a commercial ‘right to lease’ over the Hammerhead land at the end of Gulf Harbour marina, enabling greater investment in the public recreation and transport hub.
The ‘right to lease’, held by GHIL but never actually taken up, has been an ongoing sore point for decades. Since Rodney District Council days, there has been strong opposition to losing public control over the land, and stories in this newspaper to alert residents to proposals discussed under a cloak of confidentiality.
The solution resulted from an Auckland-wide campaign to stop the sale of Council-owned marinas, including Gulf Harbour, and Council’s subsequent development of a region-wide marina strategy.
Last month, Council’s property arm, Panuku Development, confirmed to the local board that the deal agreed between the parties involves GHIL pre-paying its rent for the marina land through to the end of its lease in 2088. Some of that money was then used by Panuku to purchase GHIL’s ‘right to lease’ over the Hammerhead.
The agreement is seen as a massive win for local councillors Wayne Walker and John Watson, as well as members of the community, who fought for guaranteed public control over the vital transport link and public space for more than 20 years.
Public spaces on the Hammerhead now securely in public ownership include the ferry terminal, car park, yacht club, boat ramp, trailer boat and campervan facilities.
“The agreement means there can be more certain investment in better ferry services, improved parking and recreation facilities,” Cr Walker says. “Auckland Transport (AT) always said once Council established control over the land, it would free things up to improve those facilities for the public.”
An AT spokesperson says no upgrade work has been scoped and budgeted yet but AT will work through options in the coming months to identify any improvements that could possibly be made in the future.
Panuku assets and delivery general manager Marian Webb agrees that the deal allows Council to strategically plan better open spaces and allows for future development of the transport facilities, as funding allows.
For GHIL, it provides certainty of tenure so it can invest in upgrading its boating facilities. General manager, Tony Sparks, says it is a very positive step.
“The [marina] land is still council owned and we are bound by all zoning restrictions that are in place,” Mr Sparks says. “We have no immediate plans, but look forward to a future of opportunities.”
Disputes over the hammerhead-shaped piece of land have included court action thought to have cost ratepayers around $1m and, in 2012, a proposal by Council to sell the marina land in return for GHIL surrendering its ‘right to lease’ over the Hammerhead. Cr Walker says recognition is due to the community groups and individuals such as Rod Klarwill, who challenged that particular proposal.
Cr John Watson says it has been worth the struggle to see ownership and control of the Hammerhead safely in public hands, and the marina retained in public ownership.
“That is how it should be for such a strategic public asset,” he says. “It is the jewel in the crown of the Hibiscus Coast.”
