$3m wharf offers travellers dry ride

By WAYNE THOMPSON

It's shaped to represent an elegant pohutukawa leaf but a $3 million wharf proposed for Bayswater is bound to make a heavy impression on future Auckland Harbour ferry users.

The promise of shelter and easier boarding are part of a $32 million plan to improve the terminals that link maritime suburbs with downtown Auckland.

Bayswater residents, mindful of blustery and stormy late-afternoon conditions, are having their say on terminal needs during the fine-tuning of the design, says the Auckland Regional Transport Network (ARTNL).

Operations manager Kevin Brown said more than a year of residents' consultations helped to establish the most appropriate location and design.

He hoped resource consent for the terminal building could be sought as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, a working party of residents, councillors and ferry operators would continue to tackle problems that were beyond ARTNL's control.

These included a $1.4 million traffic flow project by North Shore City Council, argument over land tenure with Bayswater Marina, provision of a wave screen and whether dredging for the wharf channel should be extended to improve a nearby boat ramp.

Devonport Community Board chairman Mike Cohen said the board agreed to support the resource consent bid on the condition that the working party continue trying to make the building more user-friendly and adequate for future needs.

"Bayswater is a potential gateway to the North Shore," he said.

Devonport Wharf was a gateway for tourists but Bayswater was nearer to the downtown terminal and promised a faster alternative for commuters than a Takapuna-Auckland ferry service.

Mr Brown said Bayswater wharf offered an eight to 10-minute crossing to downtown Auckland.

The new terminal had a large catchment of potential users, including Takapuna residents, and in the long term, the promise of car parking and higher frequency of services.

Commuters are already seeing advantages, with Fuller's Bayswater ferry enjoying 165,000 passenger trips in the past year, compared with 15,000 in 1999.

Mr Brown said improvements to the North Shore's ferry wharves began last year.

At Northcote Pt, a ramp and cover have been installed. Work under way included fitting of canopies, a fishing platform, lighting and security cameras.

Birkenhead's old terminal is about to be demolished and a new one will be completed next year.

Improved berthing and boarding are promised with shelter from land to ferry, ticketing and information, seating, toilets and a play and fishing area.

Beach Haven Wharf's lighting has been improved and a shelter is being added in readiness for the introduction of a subsidised ferry service next year.

Airport-style facilities are promised for the Downtown Auckland terminal.

The $9.5 million project is due for completion in March and includes covered walkways, 200 new seats, information displays, a parents' room, lighting and security.