Mayor throws boaties a lifeline

St Heliers people have waited two years to get their boat ramp back and, now, the consent process is adding a further delay. Joseph Barratt reports
Summer is coming along and soon it will be time to get back on the water. But the people of St Heliers are still out of luck as they face another summer without their boat ramp, which was accidentally buried in sand by Auckland City Council two years ago.
In June, The Aucklander reported that the reinstatement of the ramp was caught up in red tape and had to go through the consents process.
Residents were furious that they had to drive down to the Kohimarama ramp and were often forced to make dangerous turns on Tamaki Drive, and also risk damaging their boats.
However, there seems to be some hope for the troubled boaties. Auckland mayor John Banks told the St Heliers-Glendowie Residents' Association annual meeting that one way or another the ramp will be reinstated next year.
The council's arts, culture and recreation committee has put aside $300,000 to build the ramp when Auckland Regional Council gives consent.
However, that consent process is now at the public notification stage, so a report could take months.
Guy King, of the residents' association says: "It's been a real nightmare."
"To think we always had a ramp there. Then one day it was gone and it was all a mistake. To get this far has taken nearly two years.
"We are anxiously awaiting to hear the outcome. "We have been waiting too long."