Aotea Sea Scouts East West Link Appeal

The NZTA is lodging plans in early December 2016 for the East West Link project. As these plans currently stand they place a six metre high causeway directly in front of our building. This causeway cuts us off from Gloucester Park, an area we use for many of our land based activities, such as games, pioneering, map and compass work, tent pitching practice and much more.

We are seeking change, and have aligned ourselves with The Onehunga Enhancement Society and Onehunga Business Associations Community Plan. This plan is quite different from NZTA's plan, and provides new community space by way of reclamation and restoration of Onehunga's waterfront that was lost when State Highway 20 was built. New reserve land and beaches will complement the award winning Taumanu Reserve that opened in 2015, help complete the cycle and walkway that will run from Ambury Farm to Hillsborough, and will provide a community asset for future generations to enjoy. We want NZTA to commit to this, and move our historic building to a new beachfront, distancing it from the motorway and traffic and regaining the recreational space around the building that will be lost due to the East West Link requirements.

We have a lot of work to do. We have to work with Auckland Council and NZTA to try and lift conditions in the Unitary Plan that currently restrict a reclamation. We have to work with Heritage NZ to work out how the building can be moved, and we have to work with local Iwi and environmental groups to understand how a reclamation can be achieved that will benefit the environment and serve our community well into the future without creating problems with tidal flows and water quality in the area. We have to invest money in the building itself, a heritage building that is over 100 years old and much loved and cherished by the community. We also need additional boat storage space, as the building, wonderful as it is, is too small to house all Aotea's boats.

Our immediate funding goal will be to lodge an appeal once NZTA lodge their plans. We don’t have funds for this currently but should it become necessary then we will need funds in a hurry, hence this request. Should an appeal not be necessary these same funds will not be wasted, the building is in need of much love and attention regardless of if it is moved or not, and excess funds will be directed to this cause.

It is a lot to ask for, but we have to start somewhere. Please help as much as you feel able, as every little helps. Please also click the change.org link on this page and sign our petition for change.