Wellington Waterfront Changes

The council has voted substantial changes to its controversial waterfront proposal Variation 17, in a marathon nine hour meeting yesterday.

While the $46 million dollar plan survived a motion by Cr Mary Varnham to can it completely, the council did vote to remove many of features of the design the public opposed.

Among the changes; a 9-8 vote to abandon the plans to build a multi-story building in Frank Kitts Park; a vote to extend the submissions plans by three months to May 7th; and a vote to review matters brought up by submissions on the proposal, and to conduct a survey of public opinion.

More than 1300 submissions were received in the last week on the Variation 17 proposal, the great majority opposing the plans.

The council also recieved a petition of over 11,000 signatures urging them to ditch the proposal, from a group of concerned citizens opposed to the changes, Waterfront Watch.

Those councillors who opposed the plan were critical of the changes, saying they did not go far enough. The extended submissions date was also criticised as an attempt to influence the final outcome.

Variation 17 would allow the over 20 new buildings on the waterfront and would limit the public’s say in future developments.

The council will not debate the proposals again until after May 7th, the extended date for final decisions.

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