Yachties group put in bid for Westhaven

By ANNE BESTON

A consortium of Auckland yachties will bid for Westhaven Marina.

The move comes just ahead of the release of an expert legal opinion on whether the marina can be put on the market at all.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron - the Westhaven-based former America's Cup-holder - is at the forefront of a bid for the 1400-berth marina with support from Yachting New Zealand, the Westhaven Marina Users Association and Westhaven-based Richmond Yacht Club.

But the Auckland City Council, itself a potential tenderer, will tomorrow make public a legal opinion from constitutional law expert Sir Geoffrey Palmer on whether the people of Auckland should have the marina transferred back to them at no cost.

The council asked for the opinion after marina owner Ports of Auckland announced it was putting the 8.3ha site up for sale.

The port company's predecessor, the Auckland Harbour Board, was given land in the late 1800s by the government of the day, and Auckland City hopes Sir Geoffrey's opinion will resolve the dispute over whether the port company can legally now sell it.

Yacht squadron commodore Bill Endean said one reason for his consortium's bid was so Westhaven-based clubs would not have to pay rent to the council.

"Rents doubled in the last review, it's an imposition we want to free ourselves from."

Mr Endean said, if successful, the consortium would set up a charitable trust to run sailing schools for blind and disabled sailors and help with the conservation of the Hauraki Gulf islands once there was a "surplus" from marina activities.

Potential trustees include Auckland yachting identities John Street and Penny Whiting.

The squadron had already paid $1 million to put the bid together and had pledges from members of more than $3.5 million. Bank funding was also in place.

The yachting consortium would "absolutely" allow public access to the marina, a popular jogging and walking spot and which includes restaurant and retail outlets.

Mr Endean said he believed several private bidders, including at least one from overseas, would try to buy the marina.

Initial bids are due by the end of the month.