News Release
12 August 2014
Robust ideas sought for old NRC building
A strict list of criteria has been set for judging proposals for the future of the former Harbour Board/NRC building at
the Town Basin, and the public has two months to put forward ideas.
“We are looking for robust, creative and realistic proposals for the future of this building from people who have
something serious to offer,” said Councillor Phil Halse, Chairman of Council's 20/20 Inner City Revitalisation
Committee.
“We will provide anyone interested with a comprehensive pack of information about the building, the site, the vision for
the Town Basin area, the planning considerations, history and vision for the future. There is a lot of detail to
consider and we expect some very well thought-out proposals to be forthcoming.”
Councillor Halse said the proposals would be considered by the 20/20 Committee and at Council workshops. Preferred
options will be put to full Council later in the year.
“This is an opportunity to get back to the roots of the vision for the Town Basin developed during our 20/20: Living the
Vision consultation with the public in 2007. That was the start of a plan devised to revitalise the inner city over the
next 13 years or so.
“We have stuck to that plan and made brilliant progress, but there is no doubt that debate over the Hundertwasser issue
has pulled attention away from the big picture and what we are making good strides towards achieving.
“It is time to bring that vision back to the foreground, re-connect with the direction the community bought into and
make some really smart decisions from here.
Councillor Halse said that during consultation of the 20/20 Living the Vision Plan in February 2007 Council announced it
would start the second harbour crossing, complete the Aquatic Centre, the Porowini/Okara Link, and would be beginning
landscaping at the Town Basin.
“With great progress being made on an earlier 20/20 transport plan, we developed a visionary document designed to draw
people and business into the centre of our city and get the place moving. It was based on the aspects of the city that
people value and want to enhance.
For more information on lodging a proposal with Council, access to supporting information and indication of what
proposals should look like, click on the following link: