Opinion split over revived Milford boardwalk plan

Environmentalists are strongly opposing a plan for a boardwalk beside the Milford estuary, just as the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board has voted to pump $1 million into the project.

While other Milford interests are delighted at the new funding commitment, a leading figure in a local-board-funded environmental group fears wildlife would be threatened if a currently secluded habitat was made accessible to people and pests.

“These areas are important environmental habitats,” said Pupuke Birdsong Project environmental coordinator Tabitha Becroft.

“We need spaces that are left alone for our native species to thrive in.”

The construction of a boardwalk would have a “huge” impact on an area highly likely to be a habitat for the rare banded rail and other native birds such as kingfishers and herons. For a “shy little bird” such as the banded rail, bringing humans into the mangroves would have a significant impact. A boardwalk would also give easy access to dogs, cats and rats.

“We would hate for a boardwalk to go in there and have another area inundated with pests.”

Becfroft also questioned the wisdom of investing so much money in an area prone to extreme flooding, where it was at risk of being “wiped out” in a weather event. Viewing platforms overlooking the estuary could be installed instead, she suggested.

In contrast, Milford Business Association manager Murray Hill warmly welcomed the board’s decision to divert money from a Hauraki-to-Esmonde Rd path to a Milford project long in the planning but that had gone into abeyance due to a lack of funding.

“It’s good to see it back on stream,” he said. “We’ve got great support from the community.”

Locals had previously embraced fundraising ideas such as giving donations for

Birds showcased in new paint job for hall

A new mural celebrating the nearby estuary environment has been painted on the exterior of the Milford Senior Citizens Club (MSCC) Hall at the Milford Shopping Centre.

Club president Norma Bott said the mural, by freelance artist Jonny 4Higher, was commissioned as part of the club’s goal to make the hall more lively and known in the community. It depicts Milford Beach and estuary, and its birdlife.

The artist said it had been a pleasure to work in Milford. “Everyone had positive feedback which I thrive off.”

Picture this... Depictions of banded rails on the MSCC hall individual planks. “I think it would be great for Milford and great for the area altogether.”

The 390m timber boardwalk from Inga Rd to Omana Rd, bridging Wairau Creek, would provide a pedestrian link between Milford Beach and the coastal walkway to Milford and Lake Pupuke. A council plan describes it as having “low impact” on the environment and “offering opportunities to provide ecological enhancement” in reserves.

The local board voted 5-1 to put $1 million towards the Milford project after Auckland Transport (AT) failed to guarantee funding to build the Hauraki-to-Esmonde route. The total cost of the boardwalk has been estimated around $3 million.

The decision at last month’s board meeting aimed to retain funding which AT had told the board a week earlier might not be rolled over for 2023-24.

Board chair Toni van Tonder said the board did not want to see the money disappear from the community.

He said the main influences on his work are Māori and Pasifica art styles and nature. The Christchurch man, who has long lived in Auckland, has been doing murals for 12 years.

Board member George Wood, who was concerned the board was being hasty, cast the sole vote against the transfer. Other members considered the Milford option advanced a project that had been on its priority list over several board terms. Deputy chair Terence Harpur said: “We want reallocations, so the community doesn’t keep missing out.”

Van Tonder said the board had been able to deliver very little from its share of the transport capital fund in recent years, given $3.8 million previously allocated to the Hauraki path had been cut under the Covid Emergency Budget.

Harpur said AT had suggested it could now cost $7-9 million, up from an earlier $5 million estimate. Both that and the Milford project have only had high-level costings.

Van Tonder later told the Observer that carrying over the board’s current-year allocation and combining it with next year’s money for a total of $2.5 million could go a long way towards the Milford project.

After a rollercoaster six months, the rocky ride for community groups and their staff and volunteers is nearing its end.

From experiencing sick-to-the-stomach moments on learning Auckland Council was slashing the funding local boards get to dole out to them, to going into free-fall on how to cope with cuts, to then learning last month that much of the money was reinstated, the wild ride to budget 2023-24 has taken them from agonised to exhausted.

The same could be said for the six elected members of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board (DTLB), who since late last year have faced the grim task of divvying up who gets what. This they have done diligently and without undue division. But they will get little public recognition for it, being the deliverers of tough tidings.

Already conveyed is the defunding of the Takapuna North Community Trust. A final budget workshop, being held as this issue went to press, included recommendations for a big reduction for another trust, Auckland North Community and Development (Ancad). Smaller chops were also on the table for arts organisations and town centre business groups, with rates rebates set to be reduced for some sports groups.

Final amounts, and the local board’s work programme, will be decided at the board’s monthly meeting on 18 July.

The board itself has gone from facing a $810,000 cut of its discretionary spending to losing $126,000 after councillors moderated the Mayor’s initial budget proposal, by way of airport share sales and a 7.7 per cent rate rise for households.

But there’s wider council cutting spending on the likes of parks and roads and boards, so the challenge for the DTLB is what it can be seen to deliver locally. Guided by public feedback it is prioritising environmental programmes. It also wants to better meet the needs of youth and new and emerging communities. An analysis of previous grants, showed its northern area was being shortchanged. Rebalancing this on a trimmed grants budget won’t be easy.

It seems the board is also gambling on thinking big as another way to stamp its mark.

Convincing Auckland Transport to carry over the board contribution it has on hold for the Hauraki-Esmonde pathway and put it to use for a Milford boardwalk won’t be easy. AT has already stalled the Lake Rd upgrade, so is well used to leaving community aspirations idling. The board’s bid for public support for a targeted rate towards a Takapuna community hub will be a longshot. But looking at new approaches, has led to the inspired idea of seeing if a revamped Takapuna Library can take another storey to create a hub there. Dream next step, shame the council to chip in, seeing it paid for Devonport’s $8 million library and zoned Takapuna as a metropolitan centre. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Janetta Mackay, Editor