Support for car park re-use

Members of the Takapuna Beach Business Association have come out in support of Panuku Development’s controversial plans to develop the Anzac St car park.

Chief executive Terence Harpur presented the results of a December survey to a meeting of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board on February 20.

The association asked 590 of its registered members whether they supported the recommendation of the hearing panel to change the use of the car park to a mixed-use development with conditions.

These conditions included Panuku undertaking further community engagement on the design of the public space, the creation of a town square, provision of shortstay car parking in surrounding streets and completion of the multi-storey car parking at the Gasometer site.

Of the 60 businesses which responded to the survey, 73 per cent said yes to development.

‘‘The survey confirmed the position the TBBA already held – that Takapuna businesses want development to take place in Takapuna’’, Harpur said.

When a decision on the car park was deferred in November, the Planning Committee tasked the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board to work with Panuku and the community on a proposal to present at the March committee meeting, which is set down for March 6.

Meanwhile, the High Court has temporarily blocked Auckland Council from selling Takapuna’s Anzac St car park, as a local woman seeks a permanent prohibition of sale.

Miriam Clements, a legal strategist, first took the matter to the North Shore District Court late last year, seeking an injunction against a possible sale of the land.

Clements’ district court appeal was thrown out as it did not have the jurisdiction over the matter, prompting her to instead appeal to the High Court, naming Auckland Council and its councillors excluding Mayor Phil Goff and Councillor Sharon Stewart - in the action.

Clements and council representatives appeared in the High Court on February 22 and discussed a possible judicial review hearing in July, with Clements due to appear on March 22 to argue for an extension of the court’s stay of sale of the car park.