John Banks' phoney gesture: It's not money for Queens Wharf, it's ratepayers' money for Banks' election campaign

The $26 million that Auckland City Council has ‘recommitted’ to doing up the Queens Wharf sheds has been dismissed by ARC chairman Mike Lee as “nothing more than an election stunt”.

“The money ‘recommitted’ by Mr Banks and his Citizens and Ratepayers (C & R) followers is significantly less than the $56 million the Auckland City Council put aside last year for a new cruise ship terminal and is really just about Mr Banks’ Super Mayor election campaign,” said Mr Lee.

“It is also blatantly hypocritical when Mr Banks and his C & R dominated council are right this minute planning to put a wrecking ball through two fine art-deco style buildings Auckland City Council owns on Wynyard Point (see below). They are also obstructing ARC attempts to classify the two buildings and others in the Wynyard Quarter as character buildings.”

Mr Lee said Mr Banks’ attitude to the new cruise ship terminal on Queens Wharf – ‘we don’t want a boat shed on Queen Wharf’ – was very similar to his position on Britomart when in 2001, he campaigned against a ‘train garage at the bottom of Queen Street’.

“Just as at Britomart, Mr Banks and C & R are making a last minute attempt to sabotage plans for Queens Wharf,” said Mr Lee.

“The ARC and Government are working with the Historic Places Trust on retaining as much of the heritage elements of the Queens Wharf sheds and the wharf as possible.

“At the same time, the ARC’s attempts to protect character buildings in the Wynyard Quarter district plan change are being vigorously opposed by Auckland City Council.

“The ARC is also before the Environment Court trying to protect a Maori burial site on pristine Owhiti Beach on eastern Waiheke Island from a coastal development – again opposed by Auckland City Council.”

The ARC and Government remain committed to a new permanent cruise ship terminal on Queens Wharf.

Research done by the ARC, Government and Auckland City Council shows that on average, each cruise ship passenger spends between $200 and $300 in Auckland each day.

Government research shows the cruise ship industry contributed $117 million to GDP during the 2007-2008 season.

“Mr Banks’ chopping and changing on Queens Wharf confirms that while he has ambition to become Super Mayor, he will never be a leader,” said Mr Lee.

ENDS

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