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The future of Warkworth’s Baxter Street carpark is again under scrutiny, with Auckland Council launching a new investigation into what it would cost to carry out long-overdue repairs and maintenance to the facility to determine its future.
Council wanted to sell off the free second floor carpark in March last year, but it was given a last-minute reprieve, thanks to the concerted efforts of Councillor Greg Sayers and Rodney Local Board chair Beth Houlbrooke. They persuaded the finance and performance committee to delay selling the site until alternative parking options had been explored, and repair and maintenance funding issues resolved.
Council’s head of asset management intelligence support, Raymond Tan, said those funding issues were now being investigated and future options explored.
“Council has commissioned a full investigation of the required capital works for this property, including the estimated renewal costs,” he said. “Findings of the investigation will inform options available for this property that will optimise value for ratepayers. Value optimisation will consider all costs and benefits to both current users and future generations.”
Cr Sayers said there was no reason why the Council could not maintain the carpark and he was adamant that it should be kept on as a vital resource for Warkworth.
“The carpark must not be sold under any circumstances,” he said. “All of Council’s assets, like the Baxter Street carpark, are depreciated, ensuring there is enough money to maintain and upgrade them.
Therefore, the public should rightfully expect the carpark to be well maintained and retained for future parking needs.”
Beth Houlbrooke agreed that maintenance and repairs were long overdue, and parking was vital, not least because of the new bus service due to start at the end of September. However, she said that in the longer term, there could be another role for the Baxter Street site.
“I think while we have done the right thing to retain the carpark until alternative parking options have been identified and constructed for Warkworth, once that has been done (through the construction of the park-n-ride with the transport targeted rate), we can look at this from a new perspective,” she said.
“The building could be so much more than a carpark with the opportunity to build further storeys, and the possible introduction of a funding partner.
“I will be interested in community feedback for ideas for the future development of this site. I’m sure it will be the focus of much discussion and submissions to future annual budgets and local board plans.”
She expects Council to consult with the Local Board once its investigation was completed.
