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Waitematā
Local Board
19 September
2017
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Closure of
the Hobson Bay walkway between Awatea Road and St Stephens Avenue
File No.: CP2017/18950
Purpose
1. To
seek approval from the Waitematā Local Board to permanently close the
Hobson Bay walkway between Awatea Road and St Stephens Avenue.
Executive
summary
2. The
walkway between Awatea Road and St Stephens Avenue (approximately 740 metres in
length) has been impacted by a number of slips that have partially or
completely blocked the route.
3. The
walkway is now considered to be a health and safety risk to the public and has
been temporarily closed by Auckland Council staff.
4. In
July 2017, a detailed coastal structure and geotechnical assessment of the
current condition and issues along this section of the walkway was undertaken
by Auckland Council staff. The assessment concluded that the walkway should be
permanently closed due to ongoing embankment slips resulting in a permanent
health and safety risk to the public.
5. This
report seeks approval from the local board to permanently close the walkway
while council staff investigate alternative walkway route options. The
alternative options that are aligned with the Point Resolution Taurarua
Development Plan 2015 will be presented back to the local board for further
approval.
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Recommendation/s
That the Waitematā Local
Board:
a) approve
to permanently close the Hobson Bay existing mudcrete walkway between Awatea
Road and St Stephens Avenue due to health and safety risk.
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Comments
Background
6. The
Hobson Bay Walkway currently extends north from Thomas Bloodworth Park
(adjacent to Shore Road) in the south, along the base of the Parnell cliffs and
ceases below the headland, approximately on the south east boundary of Point
Resolution Reserve (total of 2611 metres in length). The walkway can be
accessed currently at Shore Road Reserve, Thomas Bloodworth Park and Awatea
Reserve.
7. This
report refers to the section of the Hobson Bay walkway between Awatea Road and
St Stephens Ave (approximately 740 metres in length), which was constructed ten
years ago as a narrow mudcrete bund. This ‘no exit’ section of the
walkway provides limited pedestrian access outside of elevated tides along the
section of the coast and has no connectivity to the Point Resolution Taurarua
headland.
8. Since
the beginning of 2017, numerous slips have occurred along the walkway due to
unprecedented rain fall and storm events across the Auckland region. These
slips have either partially or completely blocked the walkway and were assessed
by council staff as a health and safety risk to the general public. The track
has subsequently been closed temporarily by
staff with signage at either end of the walkway.
9. The
remaining sections of the Hobson Bay Walkway from Awatea Reserve to Thomas
Bloodworth Park will continue to be open and available for public use.
Proposed closure of the walkway
10. Staff
have assessed two options for the walkway:
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Option
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Recommendation
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1.
Keep the walkway open
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Staff
do not recommend this option as there is a significant health and safety risk
to the public due to the unstable embankment above the walkway and the
location of the walkway at the toe of the cliff.
To
make the embankment stable, a 740 metre retaining wall along the embankment
would be required. It is not guaranteed that this would be a long term
solution as the embankment will continue to shift causing structural
weakening over time.
Furthermore,
there is not sufficient funding to renew the walkway due to the increased
cost of clearing and stabilising the walkway.
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2.
Permanently close the walkway
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Staff
recommend this option as there will always be a health and safety risk if the
walkway is reopened in the current location. There is also not
sufficient budget to renew the track.
If
this option is approved by the local board, staff will begin investigating
alternative routes.
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11. In July
2017, council staff conducted a detailed assessment of the walkway (see photos
in Attachment A). It was found that the cliff face is continually
degrading and it is likely that the walkway in its current location will
present a future risk to the public if it is reopened.
12. Staff
also found that additional to the health and safety risk to the public, it was
also impossible to renew the walkway in its current form due to it being
located at the toe of the cliff and the continual cliff movement. The renewal
will have to include some form of retaining wall which will be at a prohibitive
cost.
13. The
2017/2018 Community Facilities Work Programme has allocated funding towards the
renewal of the walkway. As a like-for-like renewal of the walkway is not
possible, funding will be allocated towards permanent signage showing that the
walkway has been removed. This will be reported in the quarter performance
report to the local board.
14. Once
staff have finished investigating alternative options for the future of the
walkway, in line with the vision of the Point Resolution Taurarua Plan,
these options will be presented back to the local board for approval and
relevant funding sources applied for.
Elam Stairs Project
15. This
project is currently underway and will potentially provide additional access
from Elam Road down to Hobson Bay. This project will make the coastline more
accessible and align with the closure of the Hobson Bay mudcrete walkway and
the wider Point Resolution Plan once it is complete.
Signage
16. If the
local board approves the closure of the track, then the current temporary signs
will be replaced with more detailed signage which will be placed at either end
of the walkway advising the public that the walkway is no longer safe to use.
The wording of the signage will be confirmed by the Parks, Sport and Recreation
staff and approved by the local board. There is funding available for this
signage in the approval renewals line item for the Hobson Bay walkway.
Consideration
Local
board views and implications
17. This
report was discussed at the local board parks portfolio meeting on 12 July 2017
where the options to address the immediate health and safety risk were
discussed. Based on staff technical advice, the elected members provided
guidance that they would consider to closing the walkway and requested staff to
investigate alternative options for a walkway through the area.
18. The
closure of the walkway meets the local board outcome to provide ‘Quality
parks, open spaces and community facilities created for people to use and
enjoy’, as the closure will protect the public and allow staff to
investigate other long-term alternative options for safe walkways.
19. If the
local board approves the closure of the walkway, then the renewals funding for
the walkway will be reallocated towards permanent signage advising that the walkway
is closed. Staff will begin investigating other options and then report back to
the local board with options and advice on whether growth funding will be
required.
Māori
impact statement
20. Auckland
Council is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi
and its broader legal obligations to Māori. The council recognises these
responsibilities are distinct from the Crown’s Treaty obligations and
fall within a local government Tāmaki Makaurau context. These commitments
are articulated in the council’s key strategic planning documents the
Auckland Plan, the 2015-2025 Long-term Plan, the Unitary Plan and Local Board
Plans.
21. Engagement
with iwi identified as having an interest in the Waitematā Local Board
geographical area is required regarding the future options for the Hobson Bay
walkway. Council staff will be engaging with mana whenua after they have
completed their investigation in the future options.
Implementation
22. If the
local board approves to the closure of the walkway, then permanent signage will
be placed at either end of the walkway. The structure will remain in place
though as this is currently protecting the coast line from erosion.
23. Staff
will also begin investigating options for alternative routes. Once this work
has been completed, then staff will return to the local board for approval for
the recommended option.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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a⇩ 
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Hobson Bay Walkway
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9
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Signatories
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Authors
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Johan Ferreira - Manager Project Delivery
(Central/West)
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Authorisers
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Rod Sheridan - General Manager Community Facilities
Trina Thompson - Relationship Manager/Senior Advisor
Waitemata Local Board
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