KEY POINTS:
A proposed $7.5 million ferry terminal for Bayswater on the North Shore has been granted resource consent and is scheduled to open in early 2010.
Bayswater ferry passengers, used to stormy conditions on the crossing from Auckland, welcomed the news yesterday.
"It's good news - residents have been waiting a decade for it," said passenger Gay Richards, who makes the 8-minute harbour crossing as part of her hour-long bus-ferry-bus commute between her home and job in Glen Innes, east Auckland.
Ferry users have a portable shelter on the wharf to use while waiting for the boat.
But on their return, they have no shelter at the bus stop - an 80m dash from the wharf.
As chairman of the Bayswater Community Committee, Ms Richards said her concern was finance for the North Shore City Council to fulfil its part of a new terminal - works on the shore to aid car parking, catching a bus and walking to and from the ferry.
"A lot needs to be done - upgrading the road and fixing the appalling pedestrian access."
Council infrastructure committee chairman Ken McKay said the granting of resource consent was another step in improving public transport on the North Shore.
He said the council supported in principle the new terminal plan proposed by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).
He said ARTA indicated a new terminal would enable increased peak ferry service frequency up to 15-minute intervals and bring the standard of passenger waiting areas in line with that of the city's Busway stations.
Bayswater has a half-hour frequency at peak times and hourly in between.
The council will have to find about half of the works on land, estimated at $1.5 million to $2.5 million, including "kiss and ride" parking near the terminal.
Land Transport New Zealand has approved funding for 53 per cent of about $43 million of upgrades on ferry terminals in the next seven years and it's proposed to use regional petrol tax for much of the rest.
