Viaduct Harbour Holdings Welcomes Public’s Rejection of Harbour Encroachment

Viaduct Harbour Holdings has welcomed research showing strong public support for a vibrant America’s Cup Village built on existing waterfront land, and rejecting the latest proposal for further extensions into the harbour.

The poll, reported in the New Zealand Herald today, showed that 70% of Aucklanders want an America’s Cup Village that was built on existing waterfront land and structures, and only 27% want an option that required a 1 hectare wharf extension into the harbour.

“Like 70% of people in Auckland, we support a lively, vibrant America’s Cup Village that uses existing land on the waterfront, and we oppose building an unnecessary new permanent wharf extension the size of a rugby field in Auckland’s harbour,” Viaduct Harbour Holdings Chief Executive, Angela Bull said.

“The 2000 America’s Cup Village developments opened up the waterfront for Aucklanders. The planned wharf extensions for the 2021 America’s Cup event would do the opposite, acting as a visual barrier on the waterfront, with a four-storey-high wall of sheds between Aucklanders and the harbour.”

“The latest proposal calls for a 45m x 220m wharf extension with two four storey (15 metre) high sheds, effectively fencing off the most lively and vibrant part of the waterfront from the sea. That’s unnecessary and, as today’s poll shows, unacceptable to Aucklanders.”

“As time has gone by, proposals have shifted away from permanent encroachments into the harbour, and towards a vibrant, cohesive village on existing land and structures around Wynyard Point.”

“That instinct has proved right, as the public clearly wants less intrusion on their harbour. We know that we can do even better as a City, with a world class America’s Cup village at Wynyard Point.”

The plans show five challenger bases could be located on Wynyard Point, with Emirates Team New Zealand across the water on Halsey Wharf (which would not require a significant wharf extension).

“The second challenger base, and the rugby-field-sized concrete wharf extension on Halsey Wharf, are absolutely unnecessary and unacceptable.”

ENDS

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