More cash allocated for work at Viaduct Basin

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The Auckland City Council is looking to spend another $5 million of ratepayers' money on land and infrastructure at the Viaduct Basin.

The council has set aside $2 million for new handrails, entrance gateways and a closed circuit television security system, and is considering buying more land for $3 million.

The planned spend-up comes only weeks after the council handed over exclusive and lucrative naming rights at the basin for three years to AC2003, the management arm of Team New Zealand.

The council has already spent $40 million at the basin on stormwater and dredging work as well as buying and developing land for public spaces.

On top of this, America's Cup Village Ltd spent $85.7 million of ratepayers' and taxpayers' money to build the yachting facilities and manage the village during last summer's regatta.

Acting planning director John Duthie said for safety reasons the council had to replace the temporary handrail around the water's edge, which had been taken down by ACVL, with something that would last in the salt-water environment.

The new handrail, being built at a cost of more than $450,000, will be a money spinner for AC2003, which can use it for advertising during the six months of the next America's Cup.

Mr Duthie said the council planned to buy the television system used during the America's Cup by ACVL, which has got out of running events at the basin after losing $9.5 million managing the last cup.

And the council wanted to improve the appearance of the entrance arches erected by ACVL and criticised by architects as not being in sympathy with the development.

Mr Duthie said the council was investigating buying the eastern viaduct - the stretch of land leading from the Maritime Museum to Te Wero Island, which is already owned by the council.

The eastern viaduct was a strategic piece of public land, which its owner, Ports of Auckland, had generously made available for big events, he said.

"We need to talk to Ports of Auckland about the long-term use of that land. It is not just about the Viaduct Harbour humming once every three years for the America's Cup but humming every weekend."

Meanwhile, the Herald understands that the America's Cup syndicate Oracle Racing, bankrolled by software billionaire Larry Ellison, is negotiating to buy the derelict barge in the Viaduct Basin which was set up by ACVL as a yacht club and lost $4.1 million of public money.

ACVL, which has withdrawn an application to run the barge as a restaurant and function centre, will divvy up the sale proceeds with Corporate Host.

The company had the catering contract and contributed about $800,000 of the $3 million spent turning the barge into a club for American Express cardholders.

Sources said Oracle would pay little more than the salvage value of about $500,000 for the barge and turn it into a sail loft.

ACVL chairman Peter Kiely has said the future of the barge would probably be known this month.

No one from Oracle could be reached for comment.

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