Ferry services play second fiddle to a cruise-ship terminal in the draft waterfront plan, which Waterfront Auckland chairman Bob Harvey says is a key step to helping Auckland and Wellington to develop its economic potential.
The glossy, 56-page document puts emphasis on a cruise-ship terminal on Queens Wharf.
Mayor Len Brown has broken a promise to consult Aucklanders on options for a terminal by unilaterally announcing the city will go with Queens Wharf, angering Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney, who argues it should go on the edge of the waterfront to free up the central wharves for people.
The waterfront plan says the cruise-ship industry was worth $163 million to Auckland in the 2009-2010 season and on track to become New Zealand's third-largest inbound tourism market in the coming season, creating 5600 jobs.
For this, Aucklanders are being asked to invest $40.3 million to build an international cruise-ship terminal on Queens Wharf by refurbishing and extending Shed 10 and creating a dolphin extension to the wharf to cater for larger vessels. Wynyard Wharf could be used at a later date.
