Kawau Island residents win wharf battle

An Auckland Council plan of the two-stage refurbishment of Sandspit wharf. A walkway is shown in red. Photo/Supplied

Kawau Island residents believe they have forced Auckland Transport to back down over its bombshell plan to close a key wharf for three months.

AT told a delegation that the Sandspit wharf would close from next week for repairs. But the Auckland Council agency now appears to have retreated and says pedestrian access to ferries and launches will be maintained when work starts. A letter from AT's assets, structures and metro manager Matiul Khan to Kawau resident Michael Marris said a temporary walkway would be built along the eastern edge of the wharf for water taxi and ferry passengers.

Khan's letter said: "I would like to clarify that it is not Auckland Transport's intention to close down the wharf from October until December as you have stated in your letter."

However that was not the indication that Marris and Rodney Local Board chairwoman Beth Houlbrooke say they got when AT and Auckland Council officials briefed the delegation.

Houlbrooke said the wharf closure plan had never been raised with her before
locals began lobbying elected council representatives after the AT revelation that it was planning to close the wharf during the busy summer season.

Marris said it was made clear at that meeting that the wharf was closing for repairs and that vessels would use a wharf at nearby Sandspit Yacht Club while wharf strengthening was completed. He said the announcement came out of the blue and that wharf users had not been consulted.

But Marris said it was time to engage constructively with AT rather than seek recriminations.

Under the AT timetable, work on stage one is due to start on October 9 and end on December 22. Khan's letter said this meant the improved wharf would be open during the peak Christmas to February season.

Stage two, involving redecking the wharf wings, would start on February 22. The $400,000 project means weight limits on the wharf will increase from the existing 10 tonnes to 14 tonnes.

The wharf is used by Kawau residents and people who own holiday homes, owners of island businesses, tourists visiting the historic Mansion House - once owned by Governor Sir George Grey - fishing boats and Coastguard vessels.

Marris said a meeting at Sandspit was planned with AT and commercial users of the wharf to discuss operational issues during the repair work.