Syndicate row: does it squeeze or stretch?

By HELEN TUNNAH

A $250,000 study will decide where America's Cup teams will be housed in future, as some "syndicate row" bases are earmarked for private development.

Four of the 10 bases along Halsey St are on private land expected to be developed soon after the cup regatta ends in March, prompting fears that there may not be enough room at Viaduct Harbour for syndicates if Auckland hosts another cup.

America's Cup Minister Trevor Mallard said a privately financed feasibility study over the next two months would consider how to keep the Viaduct as the focus for the event.

He said there was no interest in moving any of the syndicates to another base, such as Devonport.

"People are not interested in losing the major advantage of the Viaduct. Because of commercial development, it is clear additional bases will be necessary."

Mr Mallard said there were two options to create enough room for challenging syndicates: reduce the size of the bases for each team, or expand the wharf on the western side of the Viaduct.

He said the latter option would be pursued only if it was economically viable, including after the America's Cup leaves Auckland.

Any extension would be large enough to house up to five syndicates.

Mr Mallard said if an expansion was too expensive, syndicates would probably be asked to squeeze into the area now housing six syndicates.

That may also mean asking syndicates such as Team Alinghi of Switzerland to reduce their base size. Alinghi have leased two bases for this cup.

"It will depend a bit on numbers. Our preferred option would be for people to have the room they want," Mr Mallard said.

"But if the option is taken to squeeze rather than expand, having two sites would become an issue."

He said alternatives had to be developed soon because challengers were already asking what leases would be available for bases should Team New Zealand host a third defence in 2006.

Work has already begun on a 29-unit apartment building on syndicate row land owned by Viaduct Harbour Holdings, and a further three apartment buildings are expected to be built by 2005.

The other bases are on land owned publicly by Infrastructure Auckland, through its America's Cup Village subsidiary.

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