Browns Bay car park to be sold

A local board’s last-ditch effort to save a car park it values has proven unsuccessful.

Members of Hibiscus and Bays Local Board spoke at the Finance and Performance Committee meeting on October 24 in opposition to the proposed divestment of a Browns Bay car park.

The local board chairwoman, Julia Parfitt, said there was a shortage of off-street car parking of a significant size.

‘‘You’ll find that the loss of a car park to an area and to a community is quite huge, particularly to the business community.’’

She said the site had been ‘‘low-picking fruit’’ and an easy target for disposal.

Parfitt said that Browns Bay was viewed as an opportunity area because of the development occurring there, so it didn’t make sense to sell off car parking.

But the committee ultimately decided to sell off 19 Anzac Rd, Browns Bay with 12 votes to eight.

The car park was originally before the committee in April but a decision to sell was deferred while a parking study was undertaken. At its October 18 meeting, the local board recommended, if the committee did decide to divest the property despite opposition, that the car park remain as such, with the existing 90-minute time limits and a Sunday market.

Councillor Cathy Casey tried unsuccessfully to pass an amendment outlining these requests.

Panuku Development Auckland’s Letitia Edwards told the Finance and Performance Committee it has plans to offer the site to the adjacent New World and is keen to see the site retained as a car park.

Albany ward councillor John Watson said his ward was the worst one for parking issues and they were increasing. ‘‘There is going to be a marked demand for off-street parking in Browns Bay from here on in. It’s started right now,’’ Watson said.

‘‘While I realise to other people it’s maybe just another lot for disposal, what I’m suggesting to you is that in terms of the local area, it is the one parking lot you should be holding on to because it’s going to be needed.’’

But councillor Chris Darby said he would be voting to dispose of the site based on the evidence in the parking study, which said there was a generous provision of car parking. The study confirmed Panuku Development Auckland’s view that the site was ‘‘surplus to requirements’’.

ZIZI SPARKS/STUFF A decision to sell the 54-lot Anzac Rd car park in Browns Bay, was carried by 12 votes to eight.