NZ Herald editorial: Tank farm removal would be a welcome Cup legacy

Options for America's Cup team sailing bases around the Auckalnd Waterfront being considered by the Auckland Council. Photo / Supplied

Editorial

There is no question the best site for the next America's Cup base would be on the existing Wynyard reclamation. The alternative, a smaller extension to Halsey Wharf than originally proposed, would still bite some water space from the Waitemata Harbour.

The Minister for Economic Development, David Parker, who is also Minister for the Environment, favours the Wynyard solution against the Halsey Wharf compromise reached between the Auckland Council and Team New Zealand late last year.

Parker is demonstrating that he regards his environmental hat to be at least as important as economic development, which reflects a change in priorities from the previous Government, but he also argues that the Wynyard option is more economic since putting bases on existing land would be cheaper than building a new platform over water.

The only question counting against the minister's preferred scheme is how quickly it can be done. Team New Zealand wants a decision by August so that it can offer prospective Cup challengers a definite location. They all need to know where in the world they will be sailing so they can get on with the decisions they have to make and the work they will need to do.

In its willingness to compromise over Halsey Wharf, Team New Zealand has earned the right to utmost consideration and the earliest possible decision. It does not want to defend the Cup anywhere but in New Zealand and it is up to Parker and Mayor Phil Goff to ensure Auckland does not lose the event. As former Cabinet colleagues they can surely bring their officials and advisers to agree on a site.

The Wynyard option depends upon the removal of the tank farm at the landward end of the reclamation, leaving the tanks at the seaward end for the time being. Parker says the operator of the liquid storage depot, Stolthaven, has agreed "in principle" to shift the facilities by the end of the year. "If that can be finalised, and I think there is a good chance it can be," Parker says, "the Halsey extension is then rendered unnecessary."

He believes the cost to the Crown or the council of relocating the storage tanks would be much less than the $118 million estimated by the council agency Panuku Development Auckland. He also believes the site can be cleared and made ready for the bases in good time for the arrival of challenging syndicates later next year.

Time is pressing. Parker admits a couple of issues still need to be ironed out for the Wynyard proposal to go ahead but has not said what they are. It is important that he does not hang his environmental hat so firmly on that option that he lets too much time go by. If it is going to involve a strenuous financial negotiation with Stolthaven it might take too long. At the same time, the minister must not pay over the odds for an early settlement.

If a fair deal cannot be done in the time available, he should let the council's plan go ahead. It would be a minor intrusion on the harbour without much visual impact. But if half the tank farm can be removed for the America's Cup, it would be a welcome legacy for Auckland.