Auckland Council to decide how SkyPath will be funded

The favoured option for the shared walking and cycling path across the Auckland Harbour Bridge is a public private partnership (PPP). Photo / Copeland Association Architects

Auckland councillors will next week decide how the SkyPath will be funded and whether people will have to pay to use it.

The favoured option for the shared walking and cycling path across the Auckland Harbour Bridge is a public private partnership (PPP).

That would mean the construction, operation and maintenance of SkyPath as a user pays facility would be paid for by private firm H.R.L. Morrison & Co's Public Infrastructure Partnership Fund's (the PIP Fund) for 25 years.

Artist's impression of the new ' Skypath ' a cycle and walkway attached to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo / Pead PR

After that, the structure will "revert" to council ownership and in return Auckland Council will:

• Underwrite actual revenues to a pre-agreed dollar amount and have a share of upside profits above a specific threshold.

• Any cost overruns are the PIP Fund's responsibility.

The decision will be made by members of the Auckland Council's Finance and Performance Committee on Thursday.

In the meeting's agenda, the business case for the PPP funding proposal state:

• SkyPath can be delivered sooner than would otherwise be possible and without the council carrying the entire financing cost.

• The private sector is incentivised to design, manage, finance, operate and maintain SkyPath on an innovative and efficient "whole of life" basis.

• Delivery and operating risks are transferred to the private sector.

The business case estimated SkyPath would see 2141 trips per day its first year increasing to up to almost 6000 in year 20 from commuters, tourists and other domestic visitors. Limits on patronage would be set for safety reasons.

It would also provide a critical missing cycling and walking link, increase visitor spending in the region as well as acting as an attraction and complete a 15km loop from the city to Devonport by bike or foot.

In 2015, the project was granted resource consent which has since been contested in the Environment Court by the Northcote Residents Association (NRA).

Evidence is set to be heard in September before a hearing in October.

SKYPATH

• A 4m walking and cycling shared path attached to the southbound clip-on of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

• Includes five viewing platforms across the 1km structure.

• Open for 16 hours a day from 6am to 10pm.

• The landing points will be at Westhaven Marina and one at Northcote Point.

•CCTV cameras will operate along the enclosed tube and security guards will be stationed at the landing points as well as roving guards.

• There will be a small fee for users.

• In the first year, 781,384 people are expected to use it.