How To Have Your Say On Queen’s Wharf

As early as next week, Aucklanders could be lumbered with a $100m Queens Wharf development that virtually none of them has had a say in.

This from business group Heart of The City Auckland which says it is now giving New Zealanders the opportunity to tell the powers that be what they want.

HoTCity CEO Alex Swney says the organisation has set up a questionnaire on its website where Aucklanders can make their opinions heard.

“There’s a big push on to rush the permanent development of Queen’s Wharf for the Rugby World Cup,” says Mr Swney. “Our view is that we need to pause and not let Rugby World Cup over-excitement drive the development of the Queen's Wharf, what could be a jewel right in the centre of our CBD waterfront.

“Now’s the time to apply the brakes before it’s too late. We want to see a shared vision for the area. With potentially $100 million of ratepayers’ money and key waterfront outcomes at stake we believe it’s time to go to the people.

“Queen’s Wharf has so much potential for the people of Auckland and we don’t want them to turn around in 2011 and say ‘how did this happen?’. We should not be rushing in to any long-term waterfront decisions for the sake of a one-off rugby event,” Mr Swney says.

“We will have a new mayor and a new city council in less than nine months. It seems ridiculous to rush such a big project, potentially fast-tracking borrowings and side-tracking procedures. We are forming a super city precisely to get cohesion around major projects such as the waterfront.”

New Zealanders can have their say at www.hotcity.co.nz. Mr Swney says the results will be collated and he promises to take them to the government.

ENDS

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