Poll shows 68% in favour

Anything over 67% means a super-majority in either supporting or showing disapproval against a particular motion or project. In this instance looking at the presser I see 68% (so a Super Majority) are in favour of the Bayswater Marina project which has attracted the usual North Shore NIMBYism for the usual North Shore NIMBYism crowd.

From Scoop

Overwhelming Support for Bayswater Marina Village

A new survey by Colmar Brunton shows nearly 70 per cent of local residents want the proposed Bayswater Marina Village.
Sunday 27 July 2014, 10:30am

As well as terraced houses and low-level apartments, the Marina Village will include two public parks on the water’s edge with children’s playgrounds, cafes, retail and upgraded boating facilities and a new home for the Takapuna Grammar Rowing Club.

“We have had extensive consultation with the local communities around the Bayswater area and this new survey showing 68 per cent of residents in favour of the proposed Bayswater Marina Village is very encouraging,” said Marina owner Simon Herbert.

The key findings from the survey were:
1) Overall 70% of residents were aware of the proposed Bayswater Marina Village before the survey
2)The majority of residents were in favour of the following aspects of the development; improved access to the water (93%), public parks and playground (90%), and the new facilities and home for Takapuna Rowing Club (86%).
3)Overall, 68% of residents were in favour of the proposed Bayswater Marina Village.
“We’ve engaged positively with the local community and they told us that improved public access to the water was a high priority for the marine village. This will be achieved by the inclusion of board walks, concrete steps to the water and a north facing white sand beach,” said Mr Herbert.

“The village itself is designed to align itself with a marine environment and will include terraced housing and apartments using building materials such as timber board and batten, weatherboards and shingles.”

“While Bayswater Marina Village locals will be well serviced by public transport with an emphasis on using existing ferry and bus services, it will also offer visitors and tourists a new and exciting destination to travel to on Auckland’s harbour.”

—-

Background to the Poll
Colmar Brunton conducted a survey on behalf of Bayswater Marina Holdings Ltd to find out whether residents were in favour or, or against the proposed Bayswater Marina Village.
A total of n=322 telephone and online interviews were conducted with residents of Bayswater and surrounding suburbs of Belmont, Narrow Neck and Hauraki to assess the appeal of the development.
The data has been weighted to reflect the demographic profile of residents from the area bases on 2013 Census statistics.
The following explanation of Bayswater Marina Village was provided to all respondents:

• Today’s survey is about the proposed Bayswater Marina Village in your area.
• The proposed Bayswater Marina Village will be a mixed use residential and retail village based around the ferry terminal. It will be built using 85% of the land for open space and will include two public parks on the water’s edge with children’s playgrounds, cafes, retail and an upgraded boating facility and new home for the Takapuna Grammar Rowing Club.
• Improved public access to the water is a high priority for the marine village and will be achieved by including board walks, concrete steps to the water and a north facing white sand beach.
• The village will also include terraced housing and apartments. Each terrace will have three levels with garaging underneath and a pitched roof. The design will be suitable to the local environment and use building materials such as timber board and batten, weatherboards and shingles in keeping with a marine environment.
• The Bayswater Marina Village will be well serviced by public transport with an emphasis on using the existing ferry and bus services.
• Three questions were asked:
  • 1. Before today, were you aware of the proposed Bayswater Marina Village that has been planned?
    Yes = 70%, No = 27%, Not sure/Don’t know = 3%
  • 2. And are you in favour of against the following aspects of the proposed Bayswater marina Village?
    – Improved access to the water; In favour of = 93%, Against = 7%
    – The two public parks & children’s playground; In favour of = 90%, Against 10%
    – The new facilities and home for the Takapuna Grammar Rowing Club; In favour of = 86%, Against = 14%
  • 3. Are you in favour of or against the Bayswater Marina Village overall?
    – In favour of = 68%, Against 32%

———

Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1407/S00555/overwhelming-support-for-bayswater-marina-village.htm

Providing the urban design aspects can be done well the project should give boost to an area which is either bare ground or surface parking.

No doubt we shall hear from the Gillon clan who reside on the North Shore with their NIMBY reaction to the poll. And it seems I didn’t have to wait particularly long as this came up:

While not from the Gillon’s you can see the resentment against the project there. Now Colmar Brunton are one of our big research and polling companies and a respected one at that with them carrying out the One News political polling. I am sceptical they would have conducted a poll that would have overt bias, inaccuracies and misrepresentations as such claimed by the person quoted in the said article. That said it will be see how the complaint is dealt with.

I might go follow-up with North Shore Ward Councillors Wood and Darby to see their views and thoughts on the Marina project.

Update: Whale Oil also picks up on the issue

An extract

NORTH SHORE LOCAL POLITICIANS IN FOR EAR BASHING

by Cameron Slater on August 11, 2014 at 1:30pm

Via the Tipline

All is not well for a few of Auckland’s local body politicians. The team at WOBH has been hearing rumours from concerned parents increasingly frustrated by busy-bodies like ex-Alliance MP Grant Gillon and holier than thou Chris Darby.

Seems the parents and teachers of boys and girls at the Takapuna Grammar School Rowing are getting all fired up that certain NIMBYS are preventing the kids from getting a new rowing club.

The rowing club is currently housed in a building owned by Auckland Council. The problem they have is that it’s a building Auckland Transport is planning to bulldoze for a carpark for its new ferry building at Bayswater.

So the kids at the rowing club need a new home. Auckland Council actually has a bit of land that could be used nearby, but they (the kids/parents) will have to pony up with a truckload of cash to build a new building/clubroom costing hundreds of thousands.

…

Source: http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/08/north-shore-local-politicians-ear-bashing/