Recreational Uses of St Marys Bay and Masefield Beach Panuku Development Auckland

Transcription

1 Appendix D Recreational Uses of St Marys Bay and Masefield Beach Panuku Development Auckland Beca // 2 May // NZ // page 133

2 Recreational uses of St Marys Bay and Masefield Beach Document Author(s) Zoe Hawkins Reviewer(s) Tom Warren, Ian Wheeler, Miranda James Date 16 November Background St Mary s Bay is a sheltered bay within Westhaven Marina. It has a sandy beach, two pontoons, carparking, and green space. Because it is sheltered from most wind by natural features and built infrastructure, it is very popular for small craft, learn to sail and other activities. However, with increased use of the bay in recent years, awareness has been raised of the fact that there are visible signs of water pollution resulting from overflows of the combined sewer network. including odours and sewer related debris. Monitoring of the overflow points indicates that overflows occur around 70 times per year and water quality testing shows that the bay is at times unsafe for users who may come into contact with the water. In Panuku Development Auckland therefore instigated a program of water testing, and invited Healthy Waters and Watercare to be involved in seeking fast tracked solutions to improve water quality in the Bay. The objective of this assessment is: To outline the importance of St Marys Bay and Masefield Beach to Westhaven/Panuku plans and hence to development of Auckland s Waterfront To describe the level and types of recreation that take place there currently To describe the current constraints on recreation and how these constraints will also impact on fulfilling the aspirations of the plans To describe how the proposed project will reduce /remove these constraints

3 2. Strategic Framework St Marys Bay is the focus of two projects in the Waterfront Plan, which was drafted by Waterfront Auckland (now Panuku) in 2012 and mandated by Auckland Council as the masterplanning documents for the waterfront area. The Waterfront Plan focuses on a holistic approach to the waterfront area with strategic goals that include a blue-green waterfront, where water quality is specified, and also a public waterfront, where providing public access to water is integral. The St Marys Bay Open Space (project 5) is described in the plan as: upgrading the beach to provide a water s edge recreational space for small non-motorised boats (such as optimist yachts, dragon boats, board paddlers, waka ama and kayaks), picnics and play, a park or beach recognising the historic Shelly Beach and baths. Improving water quality will be a prerequisite. While significant improvements to this area have already occurred with the development of the Promenade, further work is programmed in the LTP for Improved Water Quality (Project 6 of the Waterfront Plan) is described as: a range of initiatives including treatment and effective discharge of stormwater, improved tidal flushing and greater water depth from maintenance dredging, and responsible marina operations including continuation of the no discharge zone. Leading edge infrastructure and services will further contribute to environmental outcomes. An accompanying document, The Westhaven Plan, which was drafted by Waterfront Auckland in 2013, outlines 12 key projects for the marina, spanning Dredging of the bay, although currently unfunded, will ultimately enable it to be used in all tides. St Mary s Bay waterspace is identified as one of the five spaces targeted for programming and activity in this plan. It is a strategic asset to Westhaven Marina because it is an entry level point for boating, a first step for many people, including children and adults, on the journey to owning their own boat.

4 Another area of degraded water quality is Masefield Beach, and the waterfront area on Curran Street at Harbour Bridge Park. Harbour Bridge Park is a project identified in the Westhaven Plan. The Park will soon receive improved cycling and walking pathways, with further developments to occur in the future. The upgrade of Harbour Bridge Park is Project 2 in The Waterfront Plan This document indicates that Harbour Bridge Park will be upgraded in However, it is not funded in the LTP. The Westhaven Plan indicates that Harbour Bridge Park will be upgraded in As a close neighbour, Masefield Beach is of importance to Panuku, as improved connection between, public access to and use of both Beaches is a result of the different project initiatives described above. The safety and amenity value associated with both spaces is important so the Plan can be fully realised. The case for significant investment in infrastructure to resolve water quality issues is improved if the solution also resolves or reduces issues at Masefield Beach along with St Marys Bay.

5 3. Users of St Marys Bay and Masefield Beach For many boating is a year-round activity, taking place with the high tides. In summer, usage of St Marys Bay intensifies and bookings are back to back, almost every day. In winter the bay is still used daily, weather allowing. Masefield Beach is a summer swimming location, and a year round fishing, walking and cycling location. St Marys Bay Westhaven Boat Ramp: This is Auckland s busiest boat ramp with 15,000 boat movements per year. Girl Guides: Auckland Girl Guides use St Marys Bay beach and water for boat skills training and practices Ponsonby Sailing School: Ponsonby Sailing School s vessels are stored on the pontoon at St Marys Bay. An estimated 410 children sailed with this school in Learn to sail is arguably the group that is most likely to come into contact with water, as children enjoy swimming around and capsizing boats as part of the learning experience. Sailability: With facilities that enable people with disabilities to use specially created boats, St Marys Bay is safe and sheltered and used by this club throughout the year - Sailability boats can be seen sailing most days. It was the training base for the team that went to the Rio Paralympics in Blind Sailing Auckland: Sailing for blind people is also conducted using Sailability facilities. Westhaven Radio Sailing Club and Watchman Island Radio Sailing Club: These two clubs race their boats in St Marys Bay at least twice a week each (four times in total) in summer, and slightly less in winter. It is also the site of regional and national regattas. Stand Up Paddling: used by individual paddlers and groups, for training and events, St Marys Bay is also used for major race events many times a year. WaterSafe Auckland (Wai): Based in the adjacent building, WaterSafe use the bay for water safety and training exercises for young people from all over Auckland. NZ Marine Trade Challenge: An annual event that gives young professionals in the marine industry and opportunity to shine. Auckland Dragonboat Association: This club has 17 adult teams and 35 school teams totalling over 1,000 paddlers. They train and race in the bay at least twice a week. In addition 1,500 walkers and runners currently pass by on the Promenade every weekday and 4,000 on weekends. This number is predicted to increase as the amenity value of the area is improved, with growth and as facilities such as Skypath are commissioned, along with improved connections from both the city in the east and the Herne Bay area to the west.

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7 Masefield Beach Masefield Beach is adjacent to Panuku land, on the Western side of Curran Street. The combined sewer network discharges directly onto Masefield Beach through two outfalls, including one aboveground structure that is broken and silted up. Its uses include: Recreation and exercise including dog walking Occasional recreational swimming Ocean swimming events: it is the start or finish site of two swims on the Auckland Masters Swim calendar, the biggest with around 250 swimmers (pictured), and as a location for ocean swimming clinics The seawall further down Curran Street is a popular spot for fishing used by dozens of people every day A cycle/walkway runs alongside the seawall, and it is adjacent to the Auckland Harbour Bridge motorway onramp. 491,210 walkers and cyclists used the Curran Street road and shared pathway between 5 November 2016 and 5 November 2017, with a daily average of 1,349. The waterspace off Curran Street is also used by paddlers, waka ama, power boat racing, and fishing. A masters swim race starts in the waters of Masefield Beach at least twice a year Curran Street is productive for fishing, all year round Paddlers also use it for training year round

8 4. Water quality impacts Negative impacts of poor water quality related to combined network overflows are: Odours are regularly experienced on the Westhaven Promenade and at Curran Street Visual pollution from discharges (sighting of sewer related debris) at low tide at both beaches Potential public health risk if a user is exposed to the overflows Perceived health risk from infection due to sewer discharge Reduced participation in boating activities, possibly for the long term If a group finds itself unable to use St Marys Bay for water quality reasons, there are no suitable alternative locations on the city side that have water access and which are sheltered from wind and current. Stand Up Paddling hire and training for example becomes an adventure activity when it takes place in open water and requires special qualifications and a license. The Auckland Dragonboat Association self polices the water quality and cancels training and events in the bay after heavy rain. One of Auckland s most popular paddleboarding groups has stopped using the Bay after participants reportedly became ill from falling in the water. In general, the overflows cause a significant drop in amenity value of the spaces through odour and visual pollution. There is a public health risk due to the risk of exposure to wastewater in the overflows. St Marys Bay, Masefield Beach is not currently signposted to indicate the potential risks.

9 5. Management Organisational liability resulting from water quality issues is a serious concern for Panuku. As part of marina operations when booking the bay, those likely to come into contact with water are warned to take caution, especially 48 hours after heavy rain, and to check the SafeSwim website in summer. Signage like these (pictured) in three locations in the bay, reinforces this message and a digital SafeSwim sign will be installed in the bay in December to display water quality information in real time. Individuals and clubs/operators/event managers must take this into account when planning their events and considering the health and safety of their participants. 6. Conclusion It is well known that overflows to the Bay occur much more frequently than simply after heavy rain. Wastewater contamination of the Bay is estimated to occur around 100 days of the year. Public health says keep out for 48 hours this means that for 200 days of the year contact recreation could be unsafe. The Westhaven and Waterfront Plans envisage St Marys Bay as a clean, safe place for the public to experience boating, making it a strategic component of a major city asset. The situation where contact recreation is potentially unsafe due to continual overflows needs to be quickly changed in order to meet the plan objectives and enable ongoing safe usage of the Bay. Panuku Development Auckland therefore supports and strongly advocates for any project that contributes to improved water quality in St Marys Bay and Masefield Beach.