Comments (2)

By admin, May 13, 2013

From Bevan Woodward, SkyPath Trust

Council supports SkyPath:
Last week Council’s Strategy & Finance Committee voted to support Len Brown’s recommendation for Council staff to advance their work on SkyPath’s funding and delivery arrangements. This will then come back to Council for their consideration which if positive would enable SkyPath to be implemented.

Cost savings identified:
Beca Infrastructure have further analysed the bridge strengthening works required for SkyPath and, through an innovative solution, have significantly reduced the complexity and costs of this work. NZTA will now consider their financial contribution to these strengthening works.

The updated cost estimate (before NZTA’s contribution) is $30.5 million, this includes the landings at each end, special night lighting, security measures, observation decks and a contingency of $4 million.

Updated business case:
Auckland Transport has worked with Ernst & Young to update their business case. The low use/low growth patronage scenario now shows an overall surplus of circa $10 million. We are awaiting their figures for the high use/high growth patronage scenario.

Working with key stakeholders:
We have been in dialogue with the various stakeholder groups as we work on the detail of SkyPath’s landings at each end, see:
http://www.skypath.org.nz/project-status/consultation/

We have reviewed the Northcote Residents Association, St Marys Bay Association and Westhaven Marina Users Association’s submissions to Council which outlined why they are opposed to SkyPath. We believe that each of their concerns are addressed or can be resolved to enable SkyPath to proceed.

“SeaPath” to connect SkyPath to Takapuna:
Northcote Residents Association were keen for us to provide a seamless connection through to Takapuna so that there would be far fewer people using the streets of Northcote Point. Hence we developed “SeaPath” which is now with NZTA and Auckland Transport to develop, see:
http://www.skypath.org.nz/the-seapath/

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or feedback.

Comments (2)

By admin, March 22, 2013

Well actually – calling you to a Kaipatiki Local Board meeting next Tuesday where the SkyPath Trust will discuss with locals.

What will the walk and cycleway over the Auckland Harbour Bridge mean for the area? How and where will it connect? IS there indeed going to be icecream?

If you are interested, click on the poster at right to find out more. One of CAA’s committee members who knows the area well will also attend to represent us.

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By admin, February 7, 2013

Great to hear that cycle tracks are being rolled out at more and more schools – getting new generations of Aucklanders on wheels, maybe for their first time.

This time, it is Onepoto Primary, in Northcote. Read about it at the Harbour Sports website.

As always, cheers also go to Bike On who pioneered the concept and was also involved in this getting this one realised.

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By admin, October 30, 2012

The Kaipatiki Local Board has just last week approved its work programme for the Kaipatiki Connections Plan. In the next 3 years, the work is apparently to all focus on Priority Area 1 (coastal rectangle in southeast of the board area).

Sadly, most of the projects in that area are walking connections only, but at least two are shared cycle/walkways (Project 2 and 4) – those linking around and to the Tuff Crater area.

These routes are in addition to the funds earmarked by Auckland Transport for any Regional Cycle Network routes in the area – so definitely a bonus, even if the Local Board budgets don’t extend to any massive new cycle networks.

Comments (5)

By admin, September 14, 2012

Post by Bevan Woodward, AHB Pathway Trustee and Project Director

The SkyPath planned for Auckland’s Harbour Bridge is set to progress with an initial funding proposal received from the Public Infrastructure Partnership (PIP) Fund.

Project Director Bevan Woodward says “We’re very pleased to advise that the Public Infrastructure Partnership (PIP) Fund have made an initial proposal to fund the $28 million required to build SkyPath on the Harbour Bridge.”

“The PIP Fund is managed by Morrison & Co, and its largest investor is the NZ Super Fund. They bring considerable funding expertise, having recently signed an agreement with the Government to design, build, finance and maintain two new schools in Hobsonville for the next 25 years.“

The PIP Fund’s proposal for the SkyPath project shares the financial risks and returns as follows:

1) A potential Council top-up is required only for the first four years if revenue is below 75% of the business case projections
2) Council receives a share of all revenue exceeding the business case projections
3) Ownership and control of the SkyPath is given to Council after the tolling period.

The PIP Fund’s proposal is subject to a due diligence review of the SkyPath’s estimated construction and operating costs. Their funding proposal has been forwarded to key stakeholders Auckland Transport, Waterfront Auckland, ATEED and NZTA seeking their feedback and requesting that they become involved in this opportunity. The goal of the AHB Pathway Trust is to start construction of SkyPath next year.

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Editor’s note: The Herald also has an item on the great news, with some additional reporting of interest.