MEDIA RELEASE

21 August 2012

Hobsonville Point ferry service this summer

Auckland Transport and Hobsonville Land Company have agreed joint funding for construction of a new wharf at Hobsonville Point, enabling ferry services between the Point and downtown Auckland to begin early in the new year.

Auckland Transport is funding 80 per cent of the $2.85 million ferry terminal project, with the remainder funded by development partner Hobsonville Land Company.

Auckland Transport chief executive Dr David Warburton said the agreement would see the two organisations work in partnership to deliver a brand new ferry service between downtown Auckland and Hobsonville Point.

“Hobsonville Point’s potential for coastal development, as well as for public spaces, parks and The Landing itself makes it an important point on our Waitemata Harbour ferry network,” said Dr Warburton.

Hobsonville Land Company chief executive Chris Aiken said it would be great to have the ferry service up and running by the time the new primary school opens for the 2013 school year.

‘Working families moving into the area for schooling can know they have an easy commute down the harbour to the CBD as an option,” said Mr Aiken.

Brian Perry Civil has been appointed to construct the new ferry wharf at The Landing, the site where Catalina flying boats once graced the harbour and foreshore. Construction is scheduled to start next week and be completed before Christmas, to support ferry services to the CBD starting early in the new year.

“A ferry service will add to Hobsonville Point’s easy connection with Auckland,” said Mr Aiken, “complementing our proximity to the north western motorway, and regular bus services.”

The new wharf would replace the old wharf structure at The Landing and become a vital public amenity in its own right, said Mr Aiken.

Designed by Architectus, the wharf will be a significant structure featuring a large public deck where people can sit and enjoy the harbour and stunning views. The wharf will have a roof and side panels to provide protection from the weather.

Stories of Hobsonville Point will be told visually on a series of panels. The wharf’s keynote feature will be a sculpture by Virginia King inspired by the shape of traditional eel traps, or hinaki. The work is conceived as a symbol of protection of the waters of the Upper Waitemata Harbour.

Hobsonville Land Company is contributing to the cost of the project that will create waterfront amenity for Hobsonville Point residents and is also investing in new roads and a park and ride facility to support the ferry service. A new road under construction will enable buses serving the peninsula to drive down to The Landing to connect to the ferry.

ENDS

About Hobsonville Point:

Hobsonville Point is a unique and desirable community where residents will be able to live, learn, work, play and grow. Located on 167 hectares of magnificent, upper Waitemata Harbour coastal land with 270 degree views, Hobsonville Point offers a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, master-planned urban development. Hobsonville Point provides a range of social amenities including the Hobsonville Point Park and playground, cycleways, walking tracks, the Catalina Café and the Hobsonville Point Farmers Market. Two on-site schools have officially been confirmed by the Ministry of Education, including a primary school which will open in term one 2013 followed by a secondary school in 2014.cThe community’s visionary design and architecture has already been recognised through three prestigious industry awards: A Silver Award in the category of Landscape Planning and Environmental Studies at the NZ Institute of Landscape Architects Awards (NZILA) for developing the Hobsonville Point Design Code and Design Guide; a Gold Award at the BEST Design Awards; and an Urban Land Developments Property Award of Merit at the Rider Levett NZ Property Council Industry Awards 2011 for the superb housing design and attention to detail in the landscaped streets at Hobsonville Point. For more information visit www.hobsonvillepoint.co.nz

About Auckland Transport

Auckland Transport is a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) of Auckland Council. It is responsible for all of the region’s transport services (excluding state highways) - from roads and footpaths, to cycling, parking and public transport.

Among its main tasks are:

To design, build and maintain Auckland’s roads, ferry wharves, cycleways and walkways.

Co-ordinate road safety and community transport initiatives such as school travel

Plan and fund bus, train and ferry services across Auckland.

For more information about Auckland Transport go to www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz twitter: @akltransport

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