Erica Hannam and Richard Tout's heritage villa is almost directly under the Harbour Bridge. Picture / Brett Phibbs
Erica Hannam and Richard Tout's heritage villa is almost directly under the Harbour Bridge. Picture / Brett Phibbs
Backers of pedestrian-cycle way insist project will enhance areas under Harbour Bridge
Erica Hannam and Richard Tout are restoring their heritage-listed Northcote Pt villa but are concerned about the proposed SkyPath pedestrian and cycle way.
"It will be an absolute nightmare," Ms Hannam said of the transparent circular tunnel to run beneath the Harbour Bridge near her house.
Auckland Council got more than 10,000 submissions on the scheme and a spokesman said many in support were from youth lobby group Generation Zero.
The Northcote couple are part-way through renovating their classic eight-bedroom villa, which stands between Queen St and Princes St, almost directly beneath the bridge, and is considered so significant that it has a Heritage New Zealand B listing.
"We bought this because the house needed rescuing," Ms Hannam said.
"It was built out of one kauri log," says a proud Mr Tout, who plans to repile the house and repair guttering.
The trouble is thousands of people using the proposed SkyPath would be within just 10m of the classic home, where Ms Hannam said restoration work might cost between $400,000 and $500,000.
The couple fear many people will drive to the SkyPath and try to park, clogging up the area and obstructing their garage. It was only after they bought the house almost three years ago that they heard about SkyPath.
But they have other concerns too. "The nearest public toilets are some distance away behind The Engine Room [restaurant]," Ms Hannam said.
Her submission to Auckland Council highlights issues including crowd and queue management, security, crime and noise.
"Northcote Pt is a small, peaceful, historic cul-de-sac residential area, with extremely limited ingress and egress, as it has a single spinal road. All of Northcote Pt is injuriously affected by the SkyPath proposal.
SkyPath concept.
"The proposal is intended by the applicant to attract within Northcote Pt on average approximately 13,000 visitor movements every weekend day all summer in Year 5, rising to approximately 21,000 in 20 years. The effects on this on my property and the entire Point will clearly be more than minor," she said.
Mr Tout's submission says SkyPath will block light and views from the kitchen and other rooms, and the volume of users will badly affect his privacy and the security of his home.
Bevan Woodward, SkyPath Auckland Harbour Bridge Pathway Trust trustee and project director, told Ms Hannam the project's aim was to improve her area.
"Our goal for SkyPath is to enhance the Auckland Harbour Bridge and its landing areas. SkyPath seeks to transform the space under the motorway at Northcote Pt.
"The trust is very concerned with how the project will impact residents which is why such extensive consultation has been undertaken, and why the project is seeking a fully notified resource consent application. In particular, we have made significant efforts to obtain your input on a number of occasions over the past few years," Mr Woodward said.
"This includes through meetings with affected residents at local residents' properties, workshops, letters, emails and letterbox information delivery," he said.
"In addition, we have been in contact with the Northcote Residents' Association, of which I understand you are a committee member."
SkyPath plans • Semi-enclosed pathway attached to Auckland Harbour Bridge. • Made of strong, light composite material. • 4m shared space for walkers, joggers and cyclists. • 2m extensions for 6 observation decks at the structural piers. • Using a Hopcard, proposed cost is $2 each way.
