Historic dinghy lockers gone but replacement yet to be decided

By PHILIP ENGLISH

The 1939 dinghy lockers building on Tamaki Drive has been demolished by the Auckland City Council but no decision has been made about what will replace the landmark structure.

The Eastern Bays Community Board has rejected one design and is waiting for the council to come up with another.

The building went up at the same time as the Hobson Bay wave screen was constructed.

It was condemned for health and safety reasons in 2002 and last week the lockers were demolished, leaving the platform on which they were built. The platform, too, will be demolished because it is considered unsound.

The issue of a replacement has become more urgent since demolition began, but because of the site's prominence and maritime position, council processes will take time.

"It's going to take a while but something will happen and it is under way," said city property department manager Malcolm Peterson.

The community board is unanimous that the platform be replaced by attractive facilities as part of improvements along Tamaki Drive, regarded as a premier park where work can be funded from rates collected across the city.

The council and community board want a structure offering greater public access but there is disagreement over the provision of a boat ramp.

The chairwoman of the community board, Toni Millar, said a design rejected by the board in February amounted to rough sketches.

"We want something more conclusive," she said. "We want to see some form of ability to get into a boat from there."

Many older people from the eastern suburbs learned to sail from the dinghy lockers so there was an emotional aspect to a replacement, she said.

The deputy chairman of the community board, Martin Ellis, doubted a replacement would be up by Christmas.

Read more in our Marine News section