Car park delay ‘delights’ locals protesting plan

A community group protesting the proposed sale of Takapuna’s Anzac St car park is delighted with an Auckland Council decision to delay the process.

Takapuna Action Group has actively opposed council development arm Panuku Development’s vision to develop and sell the site.

However, Generation Zero, a youth-led climate change group would like the sale and plans for mixed-use development to go ahead.

On November 7, the council deferred making a decision on changing the site’s use from car park to mixed use - a key component in moving Panuku’s plan forward - because of opposition from the group and and the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.

‘‘We’re absolutely delighted that the matter’s been delayed and deferred,’’ Takapuna Action Group spokesperson Ruth Jackson said. ‘‘We were hugely relieved.’’

Jackson said the issue was more crucial than people realised.

‘‘It’s really the single biggest issue, I believe, to affect Takapuna since the Harbour Bridge.’’

The group opposed Panuku’s plan, Jackson said, because of disconnect between what it said its aims were, and what the plan delivered.

Panuku will be consulting with the local board to reach an agreement by March and already the board has reached out to the group to be part of that process.

‘‘We’re excited to work out the result,’’ Jackson said. ‘‘We’re making sure we have the groundwork of a plan that is really a proper master plan for Takapuna.’’

Meanwhile, climate change group Generation Zero is mobilising to support Panuku, and make sure Takapuna’s Anzac St car park gets the future the group believes it deserves.

Generation Zero’s Auckland director Leroy Beckett said the council decision was frustrating.

‘‘We think it’s just a terrible use of space … treating car parks

‘‘ We were hugely relieved’’

Ruth Jackson

as heritage zones that need to be protected is part of the reason Auckland is struggling,’’ he said.

The group backed the plan as it supported public transport and encouraged sustainable, mixed use development of the town centre.

Beckett thought ongoing consultation between Panuku and the local board was unnecessary.

‘‘I think there’s been a tonne of public consultation,’’ Beckett said. ‘‘Good ideas die by being overly consulted.’’

KASHKA TUNSTALL The decision over the future of the car park has been deferred as Panuku Devolopment works out issues with local groups.