This is crunch week for the Auckland Yacht & Boating Association who are striving on your behalf to protect these facilities
We have to make a decision by Friday whether we continue fighting on your behalf for:
A. THE RETENTION OF THE HARD STAND & HAULOUT AREA AT OKAHU BAY:
The bio-security Clean-Hulls Laws and boat maintenance WILL be seriously affected.
Proposed developments following the closure WILL affect access to the public launching ramp and your trailer access to your cruising & fishing grounds
The ongoing maintenance of the launching ramp and the pontoons has already lapsed!
There will be a reduction of public parking and increased queue hassles.
We have already over spent our legal budget. We cannot continue without the funds. Once lost there can be no replacement.
B. THE PRESERVATION OF THE MARINE PRECINCT & THE BOATING & PUBLIC FACILITIES AT BAYSWATER:
The Auckland Yachting & Boating Association is appealing to the Environment Court against the Auckland Council’s decision to enable Housing Intensification on the lane reclaimed for a Marine Precinct on the Bayswater Peninsular
Plans include the loss of the marine facilities including the hard stand and maintenance yard established 40 years ago when the reclamation and marina were first authorised.
The ramp access and parking facilities will be seriously compromised.
Both the ramp and 60 spaces for trailer parking were deemed necessary 40 years ago for the future growth.
The Bayswater Marina Precinct launching ramp is the only all-weather ramp on the North Shore south of the Whangaparoa Peninsular. With the increase of infill housing and apartments and the loss of back yards for home boat storage this precinct is a vital area for boat storage and the ongoing access to the Marine Environment for all including the city dwellers who are but a short ferry ride away.
On Thursday 18 May the Auckland Yachting & Boating Association is appearing in the Environment Court to Mediate with the developer and the Auckland Council on your behalf to ensure these facilities are not lost.
If Mediation is unsuccessful we will consider progressing this case also to the Environment Court - if the funds are available.
C. BE AWARE - THE ON-GOING NEED FOR COASTAL WATCH:
As most aquatic related clubs and organisation, public launching ramps and parking areas are on Council land and the Auckland Council sees:
“Coastal Locations as Increasingly Attractive to Alternative Development” the Auckland Yachting & Boating Association will continue to monitor coastal development on your behalf.
And there will also be other “discussions” – boat registration, marine qualifications, harbour access restrictions, speed limits, fish farms, moorings and jetties, special events etc, etc. on all of which the Auckland Yachting & Boating Association has submitted in the past.
Please donate to our legal funds now & we can continue to preserve your world. We would all rather be sailing, boating or fishing.
Janet W.