Boaties ready to fight proposed coastal occupation charge

Boaties are preparing to fight a proposed charge for using public space in Auckland's coastal marine area, which includes berths, moorings, jetties and boatsheds.

The so-called coastal occupation charges could add $300 a year to the cost of a berth or swing mooring and up to $1500 a year for jetties serving Kawau Island properties.

The Auckland Regional Council is sounding out boating clubs, Kawau residents and marine farmers on the charging proposal, which could yield it more than $1 million a year.

ARC strategy committee chairman Paul Walbran said the council was looking at charging for areas where people had exclusive use consents and were depriving the public from use.

"We are doing the right thing because it's public open space that someone is getting the benefit of having for personal use."

It was not intended to charge those parts of marinas that were open to the public.

Revenue would be used for better management of the coastal area.

ARC coastal manager Hugh Leersnyder said already about $300,000 a year was received from a seabed licensing fee from marina berth holders at Half Moon Bay, Bucklands Beach Yacht Club and Westpark marina.

About half of the region's berth holders were not paying a seabed licence fee or coastal occupation charge to any council.

He said the council was required by the Resource Management Act to consider if it should have a coastal occupation charge for activities from high water to the 12-mile territorial limit.

The council was consulting groups until August, with a view to making a decision in October.

Mr Walbran said charges would mean a funding boost for present spending on improvements such as sewage pump-out facilities, navigational aids, removal of derelict structures, rubbish barges and supporting water safety and beach cleanups.

Support has come from the Forest and Bird Protection Society, which wants more spent on the coastal area.

But the charges are drawing strong opposition from those who will pay any charges.

The proposed method for working out the charges is under attack.

They could be based on the value of the coastal marine area in the same way as a council bases its rates.

The coastal marine area could be divided into charging areas, according to the hinterland. A structure in front of a beach would be more valuable than one in front of a cliff.

Auckland Yachting and Boating Association secretary Richard Brown said the club was seeking a legal opinion on the proposal.

He said some members were opposed to the idea. "But some are saying some charge would be reasonable in order to obtain better facilities than we would otherwise get.

"We are concerned about the land-based valuation process - it's not a starter."