Waka Kotahi offers help with bus station

Waka Kotahi is offering to help prepare the ground for the ‘kiss and ride’ bus station that was to operate at the Whangaparāoa Road end of the O Mahurangi Penlink route, but only if Auckland Transport will make a commitment that the station will be built.

The bus station was included in the plan for O Mahurangi Penlink, but local board members were told by Auckland Transport (AT) recently that there was no funding for it (HM October 2).

The interchange was expected to service 5000 people and reduce the current bus trip by 20 minutes. 

Waka Kotahi recently offered to form up the site on the corner of Cedar Terrace and Whangaparāoa Road while its machinery is there. However, a Waka Kotahi spokesperson says it will only do that work if AT commits to funding the bus station.

“We are having those discussions with AT now,” the spokesperson says. “We really hope it goes ahead, as it is really needed.” 

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board member, Alexis Poppelbaum reiterated Waka Kotahi’s offer at the AT board’s October 31 meeting.

“It is a one-time only offer,” she said. “We have quite a major problem. Without a bus interchange there is nowhere for buses to turn around. Waka Kotahi is offering to help with this project while they have machinery on the ground – but they need some kind of commitment from AT to make that go ahead.” 

She said the community, and the local board, believed it would be foolish to miss the opportunity. 

AT’s acting chair Wayne Donnelly said the presentation was a timely reminder. 

“Your presentation encourages us to push harder on those things,” Donnelly said. 

Local board deputy chair Julia Parfitt said members know that AT is at the will of government and Auckland Council when it came to funding. 

“Sufficient funding should go towards these projects that have been long in development and long in delivery,” Parfitt said. 

She said the board would continue to advocate to government and council for support. 

While AT made no indication they would commit funding to the interchange, staff were asked to follow up with the opportunity Waka Kotahi has offered.