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The former Fisherman's Wharf restaurant on Northcote Pt may have a new life as a venue for conferences.
A landmark of Auckland Harbour, it was the scene of entrepreneur Suzanne Paul's Rawaka Maori culture tourism venture which failed in July 2004.
Now events management company Orange Group hopes to bring people back to the building.
A proposal to extend the site's existing use rights to allow a conference, events and entertainment facility was due to be heard yesterday by North Shore City planning commissioners.
Planning consultant Owen Taylor said Fisherman's Wharf ran from August 1971 to mid 1998 after which the restaurant changed ownership and operated as Doyles Seafood Restaurant.
That business ceased in October 2000 and resulted in an application by Krukziener Properties in December 2001 for an extension of existing rights.
The Phoenix Club, run by Gerard Smith, used the premises from October 2002 until January 2003 and the Rawaka venture followed.
Granting of the original resource consent in 1965 was supported by the former Northcote Borough Council.
La Boheme Ltd was allowed to build a restaurant upon reclaimed land, which the consent states: "was formerly the approach to the Auckland Harbour Board wharf at Northcote Borough."
Krukziener Properties took a leasehold interest in the property in August 1998 and is claiming an existing use right for the proposed activity.
However, the council's consultant says the District Plan does not provide for the proposal on the site and that a resource consent should be required.
