Ask Phoebe: Future of Cornwall Park cafe still in doubt

The newly-built cafe was razed by fire on the night of October 26, just days before it was due to open. Photo / Greg Bowker

As we live near Cornwall Park, we were looking forward to the opening of the new cafeteria being built near the band rotunda off the Greenlane Rd entrance.

Imagine my surprise when recently I noted, instead of a new finished building, a demolition digger sitting on a razed site!

What happened here? Jim Frater, Greenlane.

The newly-built cafe was razed by fire on the night of October 26, just days before it was due to open. The cause of the fire is not yet known, although it is thought to be suspicious.

The remains of the building were torn down a few days later, after police and the Fire Service had finished their investigation.

Cornwall Park Trust Board spent $1 million on the cafe and was in the process of hiring staff.

Plans for a rebuild of the cafe, colloquially known as the Kiosk, have not yet been made.

Is there any further update/ timeline or news regarding the proposed walkway and cycleway being built on Auckland's harbour bridge? Any news on the tolls also? Katie Lee, Auckland.

A $100 million four-year urban bikeway fund was announced by the Government in August.

The SkyPath project, which has a private investor ready to build a $32 million walkway under the bridge's citybound clip-on but still needs Auckland Council underwriting support, lodged a resource consent application the same month.

Project convener Bevan Woodward acknowledged it would be unrealistic for the trust to expect enough government money to displace a need for tolls, expected to be $2 for holders of Auckland Transport Hop cards or $3.50 for tourists and other casual users.

But a contribution would shorten the time it would take to repay the project's prospective banker - the Public Infrastructure Partnership (Pip) Fund - so the pathway could be transferred to public council ownership in under 25 years.

The new fund will be in addition to $46 million to $103 million already proposed for walking and cycling infrastructure over the next three years under a draft government policy statement for the use of road fuel taxes.

It will come from the Crown's Consolidated Fund, starting at $10 million this year.

Draft terms of reference for an investment panel on which government and local body officials are likely to be joined by cycling representatives were due to be presented to the Cabinet by October 31. (Source: Herald. See skypath.org.nz)

It seems a lot of drivers have a problem as to who gives way at the intersection of Target Rd and Ellice Rd. I believe I should have right of way when turning left from Target Rd into Ellice Rd. Quite often a driver turning right from Target Rd into Ellice Rd seems to have the same idea. Who is right? Jasmine McCartney, North Shore.

You are.