Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Top Scoops

Book Reviews | Gordon Campbell | Scoop News | Wellington Scoop | Community Scoop | Search

 

Another day, another America's Cup plan


From Nine To Noon, 9:08 am today

Todd Niall, Auckland Correspondent

Click a link to play audio (or right-click to download) in either
MP3 format.

A fourth option modelling what an America's Cup Village in Auckland might look like has arrived today as a planning deadline nears with no agreement in sight.

Waterfront land owner Viaduct Harbour Holdings wants most of the eight team bases built on Wynyard Harbour, without the wharf extensions needed in other plans.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Viaduct Harbour Holdings America's Cup plan Photo: VHH

Chief executive Angela Bull told Nine to Noon that while it would benefit from not having a series of rowing team buildings on wharves, public spaces would gain the most.

"Public parks, promenades and walkways have all been very carefully planned over the last 20 years, and those are views that would be disrupted by having a wall of 15m-high buildings and new structures into the harbour," she said.

The company will submit its views to the Environment Court hearing due to consider an application for a Resource Consent to build a village.

Public submissions were due to close next Wednesday on a plan for the America's Cup bases, agreed in December between Auckland Council and Team New Zealand.

However those were likely to be extended because there was yet to be final agreement between the council, government and the cup defender on whether changes would be made.

A "hybrid" proposal driven by the government's lead minister David Parker was released jointly with Auckland mayor Phil Goff last week, but its final status was not yet clear.

It involves a 40m - rather than 75m - extension of Halsey Street Wharf, with more of the bases built on nearby Wynyard Point.

Team New Zealand is understood to regard the five-base layout on Wynyard Point to be unworkable, and has proposed its own variation which officials are now considering.

Timing is critical, with officials hoping planning consent can be given by August, allowing bases to be built before the summer of 2019/20, to accommodate teams arriving a year before the regatta.


© Scoop Media

 
 
 
Top Scoops Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.