Ratepayers Should Not Be Paying For Queens Wharf Costs.

Huge concerns already about rates under new Auckland Council.

The current argument about a $47 million or a $100 million Queens Wharf seems to assume that the ratepayers of Auckland will have to stump up all the money – however much it might be.

But ratepayers have not been consulted about such a huge addition to their rates bills.

Instead, the Auckland Transition Agency seems to have been given the job of making sure the funding is available and the development starts so that it can be completed in time for Rugby World Cup.

While there may be significant support for a ‘Party Central’ for the RWC – surely a suitable and practical short-term development can be carried out, and largely paid for, by the licensing of temporary ‘hospitality and entertainment’ ventures which stand to make significant profits during RWC.

Repairs necessary to ensure safety of the Wharf should be funded by loans which could be absorbed into the long term development of the wharf – which should be funded on the basis of a major commercial element to relieve the level of ratepayer funding which may otherwise be required.

To ask ratepayers now to fund either short or long term options will arouse more fears for ratepayers who already have huge concerns about the level of rates they will be asked to pay under the new Auckland Council and its Local Boards.

ENDS

© Scoop Media