'Party central' booked - on Queens Wharf

Queens Wharf downtown Auckland. Photo / Supplied

After more than a year of wrangling and several false starts, Queens Wharf is set to be turned into "party central" for the Rugby World Cup with a mix of the old and the new.

The Government will spend $9.6 million to build a new temporary "cloud" structure - dubbed the "slug" by others - and the Auckland Regional Council will spend $4 million upgrading the century-old Shed 10.

Shed 11 at the end of the wharf will be dismantled and removed to make way for the cloud which will be used for fans, festival events, industry showcasing, international media and hosting VIPs. The ARC will also spend up to $9.8 million on strengthening and landscaping the 3ha wharf.

The agreement between the Government and ARC comes after Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully described Auckland's local government as a "train wreck" and Prime Minister John Key spoke of taking party central to another site in Auckland.

Mr Key and Mr McCully's frustration stemmed from a unanimous decision by the ARC on July 7 to preserve Shed 10 alongside the cloud. This was different from an agreement between the ARC and the Government in April to remove both sheds and build a temporary structure.

Yesterday, Mr McCully described the latest decision as a compromise by both parties. Money would have to be spent on Shed 10 to "make sure it doesn't fall down on anyone or visually impair the sight".

"At times in the last few weeks our ambitions for Queens Wharf appeared under threat, but we remained determined to make the most of the opportunities presented by the tournament."

He said the solution ensured an outstanding facility for cup celebrations, while leaving decisions about the long-term development of the wharf, including Shed 10, in the hands of a waterfront development agency under the Super City set-up.

Speaking from China, ARC chairman Mike Lee said that as part of a pragmatic and creative solution the council would spend $4 million to make Shed 10 "spick and span while protecting its heritage elements".

"Whatever the merits of Shed 10 it's obviously in a rundown condition and it is going to have to be done up, ideally in smart cladding. The main thing will be the external appearance and just a general tidy-up on the inside," Mr Lee said. The shed would be used as a terminal for two cruise ships berthed at Queens Wharf for the cup.

ARC councillor Sandra Coney's late father, Tom Pearce, was an All Black and rugby stalwart who she said spent many evenings "going down to the Grafton rugby shed to imbibe with his mates, so to me a shed is an ideal place for a party".

"Bring in the sawdust," she quipped this week.

Historic Places Trust chief executive Bruce Chapman called the decision a "significant and pragmatic result" to retain a significant part of Auckland's maritime heritage for future consideration.

Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney, who campaigned to save the sheds, said Auckland could stop vacillating and get on with organising a great party while keeping open the long-term planning options for the waterfront. He said with a maximum of 30,000 of the expected 80,000 international visitors at Eden Park for the rugby, the additional 50,000 visitors and Aucklanders needed a fan zone to party with a huge overflow into other areas around the city.

PARTY HEADACHE
* June 2009: "This will be party central" - John Key.

* November 2009: Design competition canned for lacking "wow" factor.

* February 2010: $100 million new cruise ship terminal rejected by Auckland mayors.

* April 2010: $9.6 million temporary alternative unveiled - dubbed the "slug".

* July 7: Political impasse over the "slug" and heritage options.

* July 16: Government and ARC agree on compromise for "slug" and heritage upgrade at Queens Wharf.

- additional reporting Edward Gay