May 29, 2002

Auckland City has begun building a new carparking area at Waiheke’s Matiatia Bay.

Once complete – scheduled for the end of next week – the parking area will have capacity for up to 100 cars. Situated on Council-owned land at Owhanake, it will be a few minutes walk from the Matiatia wharf, on the northern side of Ocean View Road.

The new carpark is temporary until a permanent one can be built on the same site. The new carpark will progress the Council’s long term traffic and roading plan for Matiatia, which is the island’s transport hub.

Resource consent for the carpark is not necessary at this stage since it requires no significant earthworks and its gradient will comply with standards in the current district plan. In addition, until plans for a permanent carpark are formulated and approved the carpark will have a porous surface, finished with loose metal rather than being tar-sealed and impervious (which can create issues with stormwater runoff).

Steps are being taken in the carpark design to protect the nearby wetlands, and to manage traffic on Ocean View Road in light of vehicles arriving at Matiatia turning right to access the carpark.

Last week, Council announced that it had settled litigation with Matiatia’s largest landowner, Waitemata Infrastructure Ltd (WIL), with regard to the upper part of the existing Council controlled carpark at Matiatia.

That upper part of the existing Council-controlled carpark – which was on land leased from WIL – has been returned to WIL under the settlement terms.

However, as the long term traffic and roading plan is rolled out over the next few years –almost 50 percent of that WIL carpark will be returned to Council in order to accommodate substantial turning, pick-up/drop-off, and pedestrian areas.

The chairman of the Council’s Transport Committee, Councillor Greg McKeown, says it is pleasing to see progress with the roading plan so quickly after signing the settlement with WIL.

“Resolving the dispute with WIL has opened the door for us to progress a comprehensive plan for Matiatia. While the disputed carpark is being returned to WIL in the short term, the deal will see Council will get almost half of it back so it can improve the current road alignment, turning areas, bus parking, and pedestrian access,” says Cr McKeown.

“Going ahead with this new carpark on the Owhanake land means that commuters will have just as many free Council carparks available in the short term” says Cr McKeown.

Councillor Faye Storer says while there are a number of issues yet to be resolved regarding Matiatia, she is pleased Council is taking this step to preserve the number of car parking spaces it currently controls.

ENDS

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