Time tight for fans' HQ

Fans of the touring Lions rugby side - the formidable Barmy Army - fear running out of time for planning approval for their Auckland waterfront headquarters.

As the Lions themselves flew into Auckland yesterday, it emerged that the city council had yet to appoint independent commissioners to hear a resource application for the fans to set up base camp in the Viaduct Harbour Marine Village.

It is understood council staff are under pressure to publicly notify the application for formal objections from a handful of neighbouring apartment residents, after earlier indications that it could be processed internally.

Central area planning manager Vijay Lala said the council awaited a consultants' report before appointing commissioners who would decide whether the application would have to go to a full hearing.

He could not say when the report would be ready, as the consultants were dealing with a wide range of issues from traffic and noise control to the possibility of installing a pontoon across the harbour to keep rugby fans away from luxury apartments in the southern viaduct.

But time is fast running out for the Barmy Army, who want to hold fort from June 8, little more than a week away, at the former yachting sheds of the America's Cup syndicates of Alinghi and Team New Zealand in Halsey St, on the viaduct's western side.

The 42,500-member club's Southern Hemisphere pointsman, Freddie Parker, said it would be "an absolute shocker" if the fans were left to wander about Auckland without a home away from home.

"We are here for three things - to watch rugby, drink beer and have a good time, and meet locals. There is not much point if we don't have a headquarters."

The police are keen on providing a single gathering point for the thousands of Lions fans who will arrive here without match tickets, and who will have to watch their rugby on big television screens.

Local business is also supportive.

Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said council staff had put so much effort into the application there was no way it could be turned down.

We've got the Lions covered

The Herald will have extensive print and online coverage of the Lions tour with general reporters and specialist writer Carroll du Chateau covering the off-field drama and colour, while senior sports writers Wynne Gray and David Leggat deliver rugby news and analysis. Graeme Hill, of Radio Sport and Sports Cafe renown, will take a quirky look at the tour, and Lions halfback Matt Dawson will give an insider's view.