Westpark Marina

What's Happening at Westpark Marina?

Steady progress is being made with various improvements and enhancements to Westpark Marina to create more public amenities and generally enhance a facility which marked its 21st birthday last year.

History

Westpark Marina was originally established in1985, following an Act of Parliament, the Waitemata City Council (West Harbour) Empowering Act 1979. This made it possible to reclaim land and do necessary dredging to create the current 592 boat marina and supporting facilities. Waitakere City Council holds a licence from the Crown to occupy the seabed and owns the freehold of most of the various land titles associated with the marina. The marina and surrounding reclaimed land needed for the operation of the marina were leased to Westpark Marina Limited as consideration for its role as the construction developer.

Construction of the marina began 1983 and the first boats moved into their berths during 1985. Over the years that followed there have been a number of changes at the marina. A building originally intended for use as a yacht club and function centre proved uneconomic and was converted to the Clearwater Cove apartment complex. Further medium density residential development has recently been completed down one side of Clearwater Cove.

A range of retail outlets including a hairdressing salon, superette, cafe, Laundromat , dentist, lawyer, financial services offices and real estate office have proved convenient for the surrounding community as well as for people visiting the marina to go boating, or who work there. Carparks were established, two large Travelift machines for lifting boats in and out of the water were based at the northwest side of the marina and workshop buildings for painting and maintaining vessels under cover were provided, along with a range of services such as canvas making and marine engineering. Two brokers operate at the marina, and a ships chandlery.

Car Towing a Boat at Westgate Marina

New Owner for Marina Operating Company

The company which leases the marina area from Waitakere City Council has changed hands.

Three years ago Westpark Marina Ltd (WML) was purchased by an investment company, Honk Group.

As many nearby residents are aware the new owner is considering various initiatives to further develop the facility and improve the appearance of the current facility. Some of these initiatives include further reclamation and additional land based development.

The company has initiated discussions with berth holders and nearby residents as it works through various options, and has put a number of draft scenarios on its website www. westpark.co.nz. (a brochure is also available at the Marina office.)

The company intends to produce a draft development document by June, once it has considered public feedback on the various options put forward.

There is a Westpark Marina Special Area in the District Plan. The Plan recognises this Special Area as a unique marine precinct, providing local employment specific to this industry, residential development within a mixed use precinct, and access to the West Harbour ferry as an important local public transport option.

Any proposals put forward by the company will need to be in line with the District Plan, are likely to also require various resource consents, and possibly Crown approval in respect of the seabed licence, depending on the scenario they decide to pursue. ARC approval would be required, as the marina area is subject to the Regional Coastal Plan.

Under its leases from Waitakere City Council, the company can do certain things as of right, for example it can operate marine associated industry but for other uses it needs to seek approval from the Council either under the terms of the lease or because the Council is the regulatory body administering the District Plan.

The company has sought the input of Council Officers on various aspects of its draft alternative concepts. It is normal practice for Council Officers to work with developers to influence design outcomes so that they are in line with Council design and sustainability goals.

Other than this, neither Council nor its Officers have formed any opinion as to whether any of the development options being discussed by the marina company are desirable or should proceed. If and when the company makes an application, there would be a period of public consultation before any significant development is considered by Council.

In considering any proposal that may eventuate, the Council will take into account its powers and responsibilities as lessor, the provisions of the District Plan, impacts on local residents and marina users and environmental impacts. The company would probably require a number of other approvals and consents as outlined above.

Council does not expect to receive any application from the company to consider until 2008.

Dredging is Restoring Water Depth

Dredging at Westgate Marina

Mud has been gradually building up within the marina area as a result of siltation from tidal action, effectively lowering the depth of water available, and, restricting movement of boats within the marina, especially at low tide.

The main issue which delayed dredging was the difficulty and cost of obtaining resource consents to dispose of dredging well out in the Hauraki Gulf, for environmental reasons. This has now been obtained and dredging to restore the original water depths over the marina area is now underway.

A second issue has been the lack of suitable barges and dredging equipment to dredge this material from the marina. The marina company elected to purchase two dredges, fixed to floating barges, from overseas ports. These 47m long barges are an important piece of infrastructure for marinas in the Auckland harbour. They can dump 360m3 of material and are self powered so they don't need to be towed. In fact the marina company have found that there is significant interest from marina's across Auckland from parties interested in leasing this equipment.

By the end of 2007 about 50,000m3 cubic metres of sediment will have been dredged since the programme began last year.

Maintenance dredging will continue at a lower volume every year to continue to maintain serviceable levels, and to restore original depth over time.

Ferry Service at Westgate Marina

Marina Makes Ferry Service Possible

There are now four ferry services every weekday morning from the marina to the Auckland CBD (leaving at 7am, 7.40am, 8.10am & 8.50am) and four return trips (4.40pm, 5.20pm, 5.50pm, & 6.30pm). The service is being run by Belaire Ferries (known as the West Harbour Ferry on the Maxx web site) and has been well patronised through the summer. Passengers can park in the public car park area at the marina, or be dropped off close to the ferry in the morning and picked up in the evening. Cost of a weekly return pass to the Auckland CBD is $65.00, and the travel time is generally about 35 minutes.

Westpark is one of several marinas in the Auckland region providing a base with car parking and sheltered water to support a ferry service from suburban areas to the heart of the city, giving a known travel time and enabling passengers to avoid motorway congestion and inner city parking problems. Services are also run from Pine Harbour and Gulf Harbour Marinas.

Over time, ferry companies and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority see ferries being an expanding part of Auckland's public transport network, linked with connecting bus and rail services where relevant. For further information about this service see www.maxx.co.nz

Keeping Trailers Tidy at Westgate Marina

Keeping Trailers Tidy

The all-tide concrete public boat launching ramp in the south-western corner of the marina is attracting growing patronage from trailer boat owners wanting convenient all weather access to the upper Waitemata Harbour. This produces a growing number of empty trailers which have to be parked until the boat returns with potential to clog the local road network.

Fortunately there is a vacant area of land on the approach road to the marina which is being developed into a shared use park n ride car park, and a trailer car park for weekends and public holidays. This trailer park will be a place where boat owners can leave both boat and trailer in a secure environment, rather than storing their boats at home. Access to the boat ramp will remain free of charge, however a small fee will be imposed for all day parking for boat trailers.

The vacant area of land immediately behind the boat ramp has also been identified as a future trailer parking area for up to 15 boat trailers. Council has been negotiating with the landowners to put in place a long term solution to the trailer parking problem before next summer.

New Car Park at Westgate Marina

Public Car Park

During the normal working week, the car park is used as a park and ride and there is no charge for the use thereof.

However on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the car park is specifically set aside for vehicles and boat trailers. Cars can still use the car park however they are encouraged not to park in the larger bays as these are for vehicles with boat trailers attached.

The fee for 'boat trailers' is a flat $5 and this fee is valid from midnight (00.01am) to midnight (11.59pm) on the same day. The pay and display receipt must be displayed in such a way that it can easily be read by an enforcement officer.

No change is given and unless the full amount of money required is inserted into the machine, a pay and display receipt will not be issued.

There is a contact number on the sign for any enquiries. If there is a breakdown or coin jam or any other malfunction with the pay and display machine then contact us.

The machine will usually be cleared on the first available working day.

From 28 July 2007 infringement notices will be issued with a fee of $40.

Coupled with the start of the Pay & Display car park, new parking restrictions are also in force in Clearwater Cove which prohibit the parking of boat trailers on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.