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The Baxter Street carpark, Warkworth’s only free all-day parking option, has had yet another 11th hour reprieve.
The 116-space parking area above the New World carpark has long been slated for sale by Auckland Council.
It was last brought to the table in March 2017 as part of Council’s financial strategy to meet its revenue targets, but was vigorously opposed by Councillor Greg Sayers and the Rodney Local Board.
Cr Sayers says he learned recently that despite this local opposition, Council was still preparing to sell the building for a zero net dollar gain just to avoid the liability of having to repair the building, estimated to cost $1.7 million.
“Auckland Transport has also failed to carry out any future parking needs analysis as was promised in 2017,” Cr Sayers says. “It’s a disgrace. Parking is essential for Warkworth and, with the inevitable quadrupling of the population over the next two decades, demand for parking will inevitably increase.
“Spending money wisely now to strengthen the Baxter Street carpark to be compliant with the new building codes would be far more sensible than purchasing any new land in the future and building a new carpark from scratch.”
Cr Sayers says his research on the title uncovered a number of restrictive easements and encumbrances, which Council staff had failed to disclose.
He alerted Council’s finance department to his findings, as well as seeking independent legal advice to study the complex title.
“It turns out that selling the building would be extremely difficult without agreement from a number of adjoining property owners. Council would effectively have to give the building away and there is no way I am ever going to let that happen to our community.”
Cr Sayers says he wants the building transferred to the Rodney Local Board, together with adequate budgets to repair and maintain the building, to meet Warkworth’s current and future parking needs.
A Council spokesperson says the carpark was identified as a potential disposal opportunity as part of the Emergency Budget. However, further investigation is required prior to any consideration by the Finance and Performance Committee if the property should be sold.
