Media Release
City Vision-Labour Councillors - Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Thursday 9 July 2009

Queen’s Wharf Redevelopment A Rushed and Flawed Process

At Auckland City Council’s City Development Committee today, an update on Queen’s Wharf was provided by officers and a three week public input process was endorsed but City Vision-Labour councillors have grave concerns over the haste and lack of good planning.

Councillor Richard Northey said, “The main objective is to maximise public access and to, enjoyment of, Queen’s Wharf by Aucklanders and visitors.  We should plan carefully to best achieve this and not be rushed or compromised in bringing this about.”

Councillor Leila Boyle said, “I am concerned about the amount of money Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) councillors are happy to contribute to the development of Queen’s Wharf given current economic circumstances.  C&R’s decision to fund $56 million of the $80 million project cost means 70% of the financial burden is being carried by Auckland city ratepayers while the remaining $24 million is, as yet, unfunded.”

Councillor Glenda Fryer said, “The whole question of whether the ratepayers of Auckland city should be the ones to be funding a customs terminal, be it a new glass iconic building or a renovated heritage shed, has been left in the air.  While we are all happy to contribute to a much larger amount of quality public space for visitors and locals alike to appreciate our harbour and city views, a spasmodically used private customs terminal is more appropriately funded by parties other than our already stretched ratepayers.  It is the funders of the terminal who should ultimately determine how much they will spend and they will need to collaborate with the City Council, the Regional Council and the Government on what type of architecture and associated service areas will most suit the vision for Queens’s wharf.”

Councillor Boyle concluded, “I am also worried that the Prime Minister’s decision for Queen’s Wharf to be the Rugby World Cup 2011 ‘party central’ is forcing Auckland to fast-track development on the wharf that may not realise the best outcome for future generations.  Auckland City Council had a perfectly good ‘party central’ planned for Aotea Square which had buy-in around the region and was relatively cheap.  Three weeks is such a short length of time for public comment - it is insulting to the people of Auckland.  We should not be allowing Rugby World Cup dates to force this truncated timetable for such an important development.”

ENDS

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