Government tiptoes into the water boiling over marina sales

By WAYNE THOMPSON

The Government has responded cautiously to calls to stop the sale of the most popular marinas in the Waitemata Harbour.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said yesterday that he would ask officials to establish what steps might be available to the Crown to protect public access to the waterfront at the Westhaven Marina.

Earlier, Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard said marina owner Ports of Auckland had a guardianship role over Auckland's waterfront and financial return must not be its only concern.

The principles declared by the Government - that the foreshore and seabed should be in the public domain with open access and use for all New Zealanders - must apply to Westhaven and Hobson West marinas as well, she said.

Ms Tizard said Aucklanders wanted the marinas to remain publicly owned and she shared the concerns of John Banks, the Mayor of Auckland City, that a new owner would block public access to the marina's roads along the waterfront.

A spokeswoman for Dr Cullen said officials would establish the current public access position.

Ports of Auckland confirmed yesterday that the marina sale included the area off Westhaven Drive, the boat ramp, the charter boat base, restaurant areas, the finger where the yacht clubs are based and the roadside under and to the west of the Harbour Bridge.

Ports company spokeswoman Bronwen Jones said it was "inconceivable" that the marina environs would be closed to the public.

Public access was protected by a conservation strip around the water's edge, she said.

But veteran Auckland Regional Council member Mike Lee said the sale of icons like Westhaven in the face of public opposition would mean "another very serious blow" to public confidence in Auckland local government.

"Selling off the profitable marinas to foreigners in my opinion is bad business strategy and is morally wrong, as Ports of Auckland and its assets are owned by the people of Auckland."

Mr Lee said he and the late Bruce Jesson fought a decade ago to stop Ports of Auckland falling into private hands and the move to sell the marinas was privatisation by stealth.

A group representing ratepayers of the Westhaven and Viaduct Harbour area said the sale plan was outrageous and required Government intervention.

The group's chairman, Lloyd Klee, said Infrastructure Auckland was putting its head in the sand by saying it could not interfere with the plans of a public listed company despite it being the majority shareholder.

Westhaven Marina Users Association chairman Geoff Thorpe is calling a meeting next week to explore how boaties can bid for the $60 million marina and run it as a trust.

Marine Industries Association chief executive Peter Busfield said Westhaven should be kept as one of the main gateways to the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park.

He said the boat ramp on the ports company's land was used by a 100,000 small craft and was a service which should be kept in public hands.

A new owner might not view the ramp as being a more profitable use of the land than waterfront apartments.

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine