Auckland Skypath may be delayed until 2022, likely sinking America's Cup hopes

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Auckland's controversial Skypath may not be finished until mid-2022 at the earliest, killing off hopes the project will be ready for the 2021 America's Cup.

For decades backers have advocated for the ambitious walkway and cycleway across Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Skypath Trust made what looked to be a significant break through in 2018, when the Government announced it would fund and build the pathway.

Since then, a row over design rights has erupted between the Skypath Trust and New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

In February, the trust, which ran the project until it was taken over by NZTA, said the agency had gone quiet over discussions on buying the intellectual property and design work for its concept.

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In a statement, NZTA said it needed to do more work before deciding on the right design to take forward.

NZTA board chairman Michael Stiassny announced an independent investigation after the Skypath Trust disputed Stiassny's earlier claims the trust had not allowed NZTA to access or assess the necessary documentation.

In early March, Skypath Trust project director Bevan Woodward said he hoped the investigation would be a breakthrough so Aucklanders could walk and cycle across the harbour bridge by 2021.

But NZTA has told Stuff construction could take two-and-a-half years.

'The earliest construction could commence would be late 2020,' a transport agency spokesman said.

'Work is well underway on the business case, which was started last year.

'So far, the business case process has been looking at a number of design options that could be possible, and we need to do more work before we know the right design to take forward.'

Late last week, Skypath Trust trustee Andy Smith poured cold water on a 2021 completion.

'It's possible, but they would act very quickly and I haven't seen NZTA exhibiting anything like that recently,' he said.

Smith said he had spoken to interim NZTA chief executive Mark Ratcliffe since Stiassny's investigation announcement but, he was not given a timeframe for completion of the project.

'[Ratcliffe] said NZTA is committed to delivering Skypath,' Smith said.

'He didn't give a number. I mean, we wanted it 50 years ago, we wanted it 10 years ago [and] we still want it.

'Somebody's got to deliver it – I wish they would just get on with it.'

In the meantime, the investigation was 'another delay', which was 'not helpful', Smith said.

It [Skypath] would be a 'great drawcard' and tourist attraction if it was ready by the America's Cup, he said.

​Stiassny has said NZTA was willing to pay the property rights for the plans once they had been assessed.

'We are prepared to pay $1.6 million for the intellectual property but only if we can assess it and it is the best option available.'