New plan for National Sailing Centre at Takapuna announced

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 4 Nov 2014 The Harbour Access Trust and Yachting New Zealand have unveiled a revised design for what is now termed a National Sailing Centre. The design was commissioned following feedback on its original proposal for the Northern reserve, at Auckland's Takapuna Beach.

The revised plan sees the proposed marine hub facility, which is located to the rear of the site, featuring a clever design with a publicly accessible rooftop comprised of grass, timber and materials reflecting the coastal environment and providing additional public access and viewing areas.

On a considerably reduced footprint from the original plan and reduced in height to a single level, the Community storage and High Performance facility is claimed to have very little impact on the reserve from a space or visual perspective.

The proposed marine activity hub and enhanced green reserve space will provide for flexible use, with informal and formal water sports as well as a relaxing and safe environment for families, says a media release by Professional Public Relations Ltd.

The PR firm claims that approximately only 10 per cent of the reserve footprint would house the marine activity hub which will also accommodate the relocated Takapuna Boating Club storage shed. The facility is cleverly tucked into the north western corner of the site close to the aligning streets thus greatly reducing the visual impact of the facility.

The facility will comprise the high performance sailing base for New Zealand’s top yachtsmen and women, seeking to add more gold medals to the country’s medal tally at Olympic Games and world championships.

A dedicated hardstand area for the Waka Ama and yachts will further enhance community interaction and access to the reserve and help reduce congestion on the reserve.

The Harbour Access Trust and Yachting New Zealand are supporting the concept of retaining the remainder of the reserve as open green space for the public. If the plans are approved, then the Harbour Access Trust and Yachting New Zealand would work with the Local Board and Auckland Council to complete the reserve.

The PR company says the Takapuna - Devonport Local Board has carried out an independent site evaluation which clearly identifies the Northern Activity Zone as the most suitable site for what would be a world class training facility, while also accommodating the needs of the wider community. While this is one of several reserves along the beach it is the only suitable level site.

Under the new plan the administrative functions of Yachting New Zealand are to be located in a commercial building elsewhere in Takapuna along with leased parking at a separate location.

This is the third iteration of a plan for what is variously described as the National Ocean Water Sports Centre - a concept that was announced along with several other major sports facilities by Prime Minister John Key, June 2010. The other facilities announced at that time have now been completed and are fully functioning.

Originally to the located alongside the Takapuna Boating Club on the Brian Gould Reserve alongside Takapuna Beach, the facility was moved to the area now occupied by the Takapuna Camping Ground, which Auckland City Council officers wanted closed.

Yachting New Zealand lost an application to have a hard stand area located in the Camp Ground on the basis that it was not urgent and could wait until the preparation of the Draft Management Plan for the area.

The issue of the future of the Camping ground is an intense local issue, and that situation is expected to continue.

The draft plan also assumes the removal of the Takapuna Boating Club's race management and rescue boat shed on which the Club had just been granted a 30 year lease by the Council.