May 4, 2002

The Auckland City Council has rejected a Sky City proposal for a joint-venture project convention centre.

Sky City, at the council’s request, proposed building a bigger than originally intended convention centre, and was seeking a $6 million contribution to the building of a two-floor convention centre in Federal St.

The chairman of the council’s Recreation and Events Committee, Cr Scott Milne, said the committee was greatly appreciative of the effort Sky City had put into altering their existing design and proposed convention centre to one that would meet the city’s needs as defined by a benchmark criteria.

“Unfortunately, the site is simply not big enough to adequately grow the convention market in the way the council is hoping to do,” said Cr Milne.

At the same time as rejecting the Sky City proposal, the special meeting of the council yesterday (Friday May 3) decided to further investigate alternative sites that can accommodate conventions of more than 2000.

ENDS

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