Auckland Council Media Release

New Options For 20 Hectare Site At Hobsonville Point

Plans to create a 20ha marine industry precinct at Hobsonville Point have been revised with Auckland Council’s Strategy and Finance Committee yesterday voting to future proof two options for the site.

With council not attracting the pre-commitment it required from the marine industry to progress Yard 37, Auckland Council Properties Ltd (ACPL) conducted a strategic review.

The committee agreed to future proof two options – a 20ha solely residential development and a 20ha development featuring a mix of residential and marine.

The Hobsonville site has a rare combination of flat land and deep-water access and was bought by the former Waitakere City Council in 2005 when the government announced the pending closure of the Hobsonville Air Base.  Owned by Auckland Council, it sits within land being developed into a new community by Hobsonville Land Company as part of the transformation of Auckland’s north west.

“When this marine development was approved, it had the potential to get some serious and strategic economic benefits for Auckland,” says committee Chair, Penny Webster.

“The super yacht building industry was strong and many people wanted to see it happen. The situation changed with the global financial crisis, plus the challenge of the high dollar. That along with a lack of commitment from the marine industry meant we needed to re-evaluate.”

The committee’s decision comes with the proviso the marine component of any mixed development would still need a minimum level of three significant sales, before it got a green light.  Those would need to be reached when either the Unitary Plan consent took effect or in the 2015/2016 financial year when a final decision would be made by the council.

In its review, ACPL investigated four options – 20ha marine use, 20ha residential use, 20ha industrial use and a 20ha combination of marine/residential or marine/industrial.

ACPL advised the committee that the greatest financial return for the council would be to go with a residential development and that if Yard 37 did not proceed a strategic opportunity to expand the marine industry in Auckland would be lost.

The  approved a number of ACPL recommendations focusing on the process to ensure the future proofing of the two options including a Comprehensive Development Plan being developed, lodged and issued by September this year.

“Our decision means the marine industry still has a chance to take up this exceptional opportunity for a precinct in some form at the Hobsonville Point site,” says Councillor Webster.

“The options will be protected for up to three years and then we can have another look, in a different economic environment and with the best outcome for ratepayers and the marine industry in mind.”

ENDS

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