AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

7 December 2006

Mayor agrees ‘open up the wharf gates’

Mayor of Auckland City Dick Hubbard welcomed the announcement from the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) that it will speed up the development of Auckland’s waterfront, opening Queens Wharf up to the public earlier than planned.

“This is a step in the right direction,“ Mayor Dick Hubbard said, “Queens Wharf is the front door to our CBD. The message from Aucklanders over the past month has been ‘Open up the gates and give us access to as much of the water as possible’.

“Today’s announcement will go some way in realising that dream,” he said, “We won’t have to wait decades before we can gain access to Queens Wharf and sit by the water’s edge. It will happen in our lifetime.”

Auckland City Council is finalising agreement of the financial arrangements associated with the Tank Farm area (Wynyard Wharf) before it releases its District Plan Change in the New Year.

The Mayor said a large amount of public money will be required to develop Wynyard Point and Council was working closely with ARC on how these costs will be shared between the two entities.

“What we want is a plan for our waterfront that truly brings us a quality development – open spaces, parks, boulevards, apartments and bars and cafes – but which is also financially acceptable to Auckland City ratepayers.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media