A central Auckland boatyard considered “vital” for keeping biosecurity threats at bay is now set to be bulldozed, amid accusations that wealthy yachties are calling the shots. Jonathan Killick investigates.

Liz Alonzi doesn’t want to sell her 10-foot trimaran, but may have no choice. With the closure of the Okahu Bay Hardstand in Ōrākei, the next-closest location she can service her vessel is in Whangārei.

“It’s either that or pay $1500 an hour to hire a crane, which I can’t do,” she said, explaining that other Auckland marinas were not equipped for trimarans.

The closure came as a surprise to some; cleaning is critical for Auckland boaties due to new rules introduced to stop the spread of invasive seaweed caulerpa brachypus, and Auckland Council had previously spent $3 million upgrading the site’s cleaning facilities in 2007.

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Auckland has a chronic shortage of marine cleaning facilities, with a council-commissioned report by consultancy Ecometrics finding the city only had a third of the capacity needed to properly clean its 8800-strong fleet.

Co-chair of the Tāmaki Estuary Environmental Forum Bruce Kendall said the lack…