Great Barrier Island issues and options

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Tryphena Wharf

Issue

Tryphena wharf is the main passenger and freight terminal for Great Barrier Island and is therefore of high importance to both residents and visitors to the Island.

The land area behind Tryphena wharf and Shoal Bay Road is included in the Tryphena policy area as "Tryphena Wharf and Access Area". These provisions state that additions and alterations to buildings, earthworks, and the removal of vegetation require consent as a controlled activity. The overall intent of the provisions is to ensure that the wharf area is managed effectively and efficiently while ensuring that buildings are of an appropriate scale and location.

In addition to the provisions of the policy area, the provisions of Land Unit 1 - Coastal Cliffs apply. These provisions state that a controlled activity consent must be sought where an activity is in the Tryphena policy area; and application must be made for a resource consent as a discretionary activity where it is proposed to vary any of the standards in Part 6B.

It is important to note that the provisions of Land Unit 1 and the Tryphena policy area apply only to the land behind Tryphena wharf (1280m²) and not to the wharf itself (which is in the jurisdiction of the Auckland Regional Council). The land area is vested as road reserve.

The primary issues associated with the functioning of the land area behind the wharf relate to the limited space that is available for parking and storage and for dropping off and picking up both passengers and freight. The winding, narrow road is also of concern.

Because this area is the main ferry terminal for freight and passengers, it is important that planning provisions do not unnecessarily constrain its future development.

While the provisions of the policy area seek to ensure that the wharf operates effectively and efficiently, they are offset by the provisions of Land Unit 1 - Coastal Cliffs, which has permitted activity standards such as a zero-metre height limit and the coastal protection yard. The need for a controlled activity consent under Land Unit 1 is questioned, because the issues to do with the Tryphena policy area are more appropriately assessed under the policy area provisions - not the Land Unit 1 provisions.

It would also seem logical that planning provisions reflect future development plans for the wharf by Traffic and Roading Services (TARS).