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Auckland Council has proposed a radical shake-up of the Sandspit Wharf area in a bid to get maximum use out of limited space and create a hub where the community can come together and meet.
Council’s concept plan would see the removal of the information centre/ferry ticket office, demolition of the Sandspit Café, relocation of the toilets, provision of extra green space and more car parking.
The current carpark attendant’s house would be refitted to create a multi-use building that would accommodate the ticket office, café and information centre.
Council head of area operations Oliver Kunzendorff says the multi-use centre would be a one-stop shop for visitors and would take advantage of the magnificent trees that are around the house for people to sit, relax and dine under.
In addition, a single multi-use building, rather than three separate buildings would reduce maintenance costs.
Moreover, the changes would free up space for additional carparks near the wharf entrance.
Part of the concept plan calls for the creation of an overflow parking area at Sandspit Reserve – an area next to the Sandspit marina carpark, which would be available over summer only.
“There is a parking capacity problem at Sandspit, which normally starts on Labour Day weekend and runs through until February. Often vehicles are unable to find any parking in the carpark or even along the roadside in the surrounding area,” Mr Kunzendorff says.
Mr Kunzendorff says Council has consulted with several Sandspit and Kawau community groups over the proposed changes, and their feedback is being evaluated. Once this is done, the proposals will be considered by the Rodney Local Board.
But the concept plan has received a chilly response from the Sandspit Residents and Ratepayers Association (SRRA).
Chair Greg Doherty says the SRRA does not support demolition of the information centre and café, moving the toilets or the creation of the multi-use building. Reasons include poor use of the space to create only a few additional car parks, loss of iconic views from the café and the current car park attendant’s house not being big enough to accommodate the functions that are envisaged.
The SRRA is especially opposed to the use of Sandspit Reserve to create a temporary carpark during the peak holiday season for cars with boat trailers. Mr Doherty says residents are ready to chain themselves to trees or pitch tents in the reserve area to block the move.
In an SRRA newsletter, Mr Doherty writes that a rapidly increasing Auckland population will continue to put pressure on facilities at Sandspit.
“We welcome visitors to our region, but not at the expense of the residents of Sandspit,” he says.
Lin Pardey, chair of the Kawau Island advisory committee, which advises the Rodney Local Board, says islanders also have several concerns about the concept plan.
These include a lack of dedicated carparking spaces for Kawau islanders, a lack of a dedicated exit for Sandspit’s main carpark and a restricted ability for cars and buses to turn around in the wharf area.
