KEY POINTS:
A price tag of $60 million for Queens Wharf was discussed by Auckland City Council during the waterfront stadium debate but Auckland Regional Council says it's not for sale.
Instead, ARC chairman Mike Lee said yesterday his council was "reviewing" its plans for public access to the 3ha wharf.
"Opening it to the public is one thing but selling it when it's already publicly-owned doesn't make sense," Mr Lee said.
"There is no way we are selling wharves to Auckland City Council."
ARC owns Ports of Auckland and its assets through its investment arm, Auckland Regional Holdings.
Mayor Dick Hubbard said Auckland City had wanted to buy Queens Wharf for some years but the debate over a waterfront stadium, since ditched, had brought the issue to the fore.
"Our council would be of the firm view it would like public access there," he said.
"But the past track record from Ports of Auckland is that they price their assets very, very highly."
Redevelopment of the waterfront to make way for the stadium would have made the wharf isolated and probably redundant.
He was not sure where the $60 million figure came from, which was included in a confidential report to the council last week during the stadium debate.
He thought it might have come from a Government Cabinet paper.
Even before the latest debate over the waterfront, his council offered to buy the wharf - used mostly for clearing imported, secondhand cars and bananas - but was told that was not possible.
"Ports said it might be surplus to requirements and, out of left field, the ARC said it wasn't for sale," said Mr Hubbard.
It was "incongruous" that one of the uses of the wharf was for drying bananas.
"I understand the need for the ports' economic activity but it is clear the people of Auckland want access to some of the waterfront."
Mr Lee said shipping facilities would have to be retained on the wharf for "many years to come" but that did not rule out public access.
"We are going to take another look at it," he said. "We are aware of public concern about access and we are reviewing our plans in that area."
He would not give a timeline.
READERS' VIEWS
Queens, Captain Cook and Marsden wharves should be developed for everyone - not just the few who have money in their pockets. There should be art galleries, artists in residence so people can watch them at work, a swimming pool, and food that is not out of reach for the average family.
Princes wharf is cold and uninviting and the restaurants are not designed for the family pocket. We need to provide a lot more people-friendly areas like the beautiful Wellington waterfront.
Michele Donovan
Great projects depend on the quality of the design brief to the architects. The key points for changing the waterfront might be:
* Create a people place.
* Encourage transparency to make the beauty of the harbour visible from everywhere.
* Touch the harbour edge lightly.
* Make the harbour edge accessible.
* Make it a vibrant place at all times.
* Create a design that gives Auckland a unique identity that makes the city proud for generations to come.
Rob Bucket
We would like to see the waterfront area in front of Britomart redeveloped as an informal outdoor area for people living and working in the central city to relax in.
Our concept would be to try to "bring the beach back to Queen St".
How about an area of sand and an outdoor saltwater pool? There should also be some grass or green area and a children's playground, and a bridge or mall linking it to Britomart.
The Viaduct Basin is in our opinion a disaster because it has been developed largely as a backdrop to the restaurants, bars and luxury apartments. There is no shelter for pedestrians, no access to the water, no play areas for children and no green space to sit in.
Ian and Rosemary Gatland
It is my belief that an island should be built in the Firth of Thames to handle the international commercial port's activities.
Within the island's sealed boundaries could be an Auckland rubbish dump as the island develops. If it was connected to shore by a causeway, bypassing the bird sanctuary, rail and road traffic through central Auckland could be drastically reduced and future dredging of Rangitoto Channel avoided.
The inner harbour should be reserved for small boats, both private and commercial, and passenger ships. Eventually, the current container port could be developed to enhance the waterfront.
Gerry Wright
