The 75m waka replica was a big tourist attraction during the Rugby World Cup. Photo / NZH
The 75m waka replica was a big tourist attraction during the Rugby World Cup. Photo / NZH
One hundred car parks could be lost by the controversial plan to revitalise Tauranga's downtown by making the 75-metre Waka Maori a feature of the waterfront.
The project was outlined to a confidential briefing this week by the promoter of the scheme, Sally Cooke of communications and marketing firm Tuskany, the agency responsible for the marketing and management of Mainstreet Tauranga.
Negative people have not got an open mind to the possibilities. I am very keen to see the business case ... there could be a very significant revenue upside.
Public-excluded briefings have become a regular feature of the new-look council elected last year, with Councillor Rick Curach saying they were happening at least once a week and could cover a multitude of topics.
Monday's briefing heard how the project was at the feasibility and scoping stage, with a full report including a business case expected to come back to the council in November.
Waka Maori, dubbed the plastic waka, has been pitched as providing a cultural, technological and innovation showcase centre.
Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout said the people who were immediately negative towards the waka had never been through it. It was voted the number one visitor attraction at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
He believed the waka could be a good injection into the city centre although his preference was that instead of blocking 75 metres of views and losing 100 car parks, it could be put lengthways onto a pier or pontoons and protrude into the harbour.
"Negative people have not got an open mind to the possibilities. I am very keen to see the business case ... there could be a very significant revenue upside," Mr Clout said.
Councillor Steve Morris said the project team has been told to look at alternative sites because if the waterfront was the only venue, it would need an extremely strong business case to convince the council and the public.
Councillor Clayton Mitchell said the waka ticked all the boxes including education and tourism but for the project to be taken seriously it needed a pontoon and breakwater arrangement.
"To plonk it on the waterfront was just not the right location."
The project could get across the line if it was done properly, with full public engagement in the consenting process.
Mayor Stuart Crosby said the plan was to lease the waka from its iwi owner, with the resource consent determining the timeline to make it happen. It the consent was publicly notified, it had to be heard by an independent hearings panel and the decision could be appealed to the Environment Court.
The council was waiting until it had all the information in November. If the project had merit, the next issue was where it could go on the waterfront. The 100 carparks were eventually expected to be lost with waterfront redevelopment.
