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 Off

By admin, April 1, 2013

Repeating the event recently held on the northern side of the bridge, the SkyPath Trust and the Waitemata Local Board invite you to a meeting Thursday next week (11 April).

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 [Richmond Yacht Club is at the AHB end of Curran Street, and then along the the seawall btw...]

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.

Comments (8)

By admin, February 20, 2013

…oh well, almost every question, including some of the weirder ones that cropped up from unexpected directions around last week’s big vote, like “Is it going to fall off?” or “Will it have air conditioning?” or “Will there be icecream?“

As Bevan Woodward, former CAA Chair and SkyPath Project Director says:

Whilst we are pleased with the outcome of last week’s Auckland Council Transport Committee, we did think we should endeavour to do a better job of clearly communicating where the project is at.

Thus, they have provided this document (SkyPath-Project-Updated). The project recapped in clear language and diagrams. Did you know that:

• the project is still workable at less than 500 cycle / walking commuters a day for the project duration (plus similarly conservative numbers for tourists and recreational users) – less than the numbers on the Northwestern Cycleway now
• the project design, costs and patronage figures have been scrutinised by numerous independent experts, consultancies and authorities
• that several well-heeled charities are on board to underwrite part of the risk, but that the project is actually hoped to make Council money?

Have a read, and tell us this isn’t a steal! Yes, there is a small chance of Council having to cover a “default” (i.e. ACTUALLY PAY FOR PART OF THE DARN THING) – but that risk only occurs IF we get a walk / cycleway over the Harbour Bridge, and pretty much nobody turns up to use it (how likely is that?). But the only reason we are going through this all is because no one in government is prepared to straight-out fund the $30 million.

Lets not waste the chance that, despite all the odds, the Pathways Trust has found a way to make this project happen!

[Oh, and the answers to the questions at the beginning are "No. No. And yes, if we can get some chap to put a chilly bin on a cargo bike and ride up to the observation deck with it."]

Comments (3)

By admin, February 13, 2013

UPDATED WITH LINKS PROVIDING MORE DETAILS  IN THIS NEWS RECAP.

A major hurdle for the Auckland Harbour Bridge “Skypath” has been cleared today!

The Transport Committee today has voted to refer the project on to the Strategy and Finance Committee with lots of positive comments! BIG STEP FORWARD – power to the people – especially if they’re on foot or on a bike!

Thank you all for your awesome support, and even more thanks to the Pathways Trust and all the people involved in getting us as far.