MP plays wait and see on bridge SkyPath

Erica Hannam and Richard Tout oppose the SkyPath cycleway proposed for the harbour bridge. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Northcote MP Jonathan Coleman won't say whether he supports the SkyPath proposed for beneath the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

But the Sport and Recreation Minister says he is most certainly in favour of people using the bridge.

"In principle I am in favour of walking and cycling across the harbour bridge, but there is much more detail required before a final decision is made on the SkyPath proposal," he said.

Locals questioned their member of Parliament's position, saying he was not giving a clear indication of his stance on the project, which has divided many in the historic housing area where entrance from the North Shore is planned to begin.

But Coleman said he was focusing on the next step in proceedings after people made their views known last month.

"Submissions for [the] resource consent process have closed and I am awaiting the outcome of this process," he said.

Erica Hannam and Richard Tout own a historic Northcote eight-bedroom villa almost directly beneath the bridge near where people will enter SkyPath, and are opposed to the proposal.

"When we undertook due diligence, we relied on the Auckland Council LIM report and information on the council property file.

"The SkyPath proposal was not included in any information provided by the council. Neither Richard nor I had ever heard of SkyPath until February 2013, several months after we purchased the house," Hannam said.

However, Mike Pearson, who is in favour of SkyPath and is a Northcote Residents Association executive member, challenged Hannam and Tout over the timing.

"I purchased a property in Northcote Point prior to your purchase. During my pre-purchase process, I learned of SkyPath and a number of other key issues," Pearson said.

"While this information did not influence our ultimate decision to purchase, it was made in the knowledge of these proposals. [You] purchased after us, yet it is stated the information was not available."