Closed harbourmaster office at Sandspit has residents concerned for summer

Thursday, 26 October 2017

The Harbour Master building on Sandspit wharf now sits empty

The harbourmaster's building on the Sandpit wharf now lies empty, after Auckland Transport staff transferred into Warkworth recently.

But, with more boats ignoring the five knot speed limit around the estuary and bay already, Sandspit residents and boaties alike have some concerns over what the next few months will bring.

There have been complaints by residents over emergency moorings left on the beach at Sandspit.

'This summer will be the telling time,' Sandspit residents and rate payers association Greg Doherty said. 'Especially when it comes to jet skis.'

The restructuring of the harbourmaster's department came after long term maritime officer Graeme Kearney resigned, leaving a skipper and a maritime assistant at the office.

* Hitchhiking marine pest a risk to the Hauraki Gulf**

'The administration work previously undertaken in the northern region will now be consolidated at the harbourmaster's main office in Mechanics Bay allowing the Northern team to be more operationally focused,' Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said.

'Concerns had been raised that the Sandspit Wharf office wasn't fit for purpose, so the option was taken to move to the Council service centre in Warkworth.'

In the marina they have issues with people creating a wake, Sandspit Marina manager Grant Brown says.

But Brown's home also overlooks Sandspit so he has a front row seat to the overall boat traffic in the area.

'Without a doubt there has been an increase in the number of boats not obeying the 200 metre rule,' he said.

Under Maritime New Zealand rules boats must not exceed a speed of five knots, a fast walking speed, within 200 meters of the shore. He, too, has concerns with jet skis particularly during the summer months.

Complaints about speed should go to the Mechanics Bay office, Hannan said, as the Warkworth staff are more often than not out on patrol or doing other operational duties.

Auckland Transport expect staff to be operating out of Sandspit almost daily. From there they cover the whole of the northern area including the Whangaparāoa and also the Kaipara harbour at times, trailering over the 8.5 metre patrol boat.

In the past the boat needed to be launched and recovered off the beach each day, but with the tractor ageing a site at the marina is now being trialled.

A new container workshop will also go in the car park.

All up this should see staff spending more time patrolling and maintaining the areas navigation aids, signage and markers than in the past, rather than being burdened with administration, Hannan said.