Two councils, two opposing wish lists

The veils have been lifted and the gloves are off.

The Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Council yesterday released preliminary concept drawings for redevelopment of Queens Wharf in time for the Rugby World Cup - and they reveal two authorities with opposing goals.

Neither Auckland City Mayor John Banks nor ARC chairman Mike Lee is impressed with the other's plan, which both sides emphasise are preliminary, as are the costings.

Both say there will be opportunities for public input but the parties must quickly reach agreement if the wharf is to be ready by September 2011 as the "fanzone" for the Rugby World Cup, catering for up to 20,000 people.

The city council wants a modest people-focused redevelopment based around renovation of the wharf's two historic cargo sheds, with the eastern one doubling as a cruise ship terminal. Both sheds would be reclad in glass.

Elsewhere on the wharf there are plans for a covered market, use of the western shed for exhibitions and theatre, lighting, paving, furniture and a central boulevard.

Renovating the sheds to highlight features including a kauri sarking ceiling and steel trusses would cost an estimated $15 million but the council says it could cost up to $84 million to upgrade the whole wharf, including a $20 million contingency for structural repairs.

Mr Lee says these may not be needed. The ARC preliminary plan has no allowance for amenities for the rugby and future public use on the wharf itself. It does allow plenty of room for buses and vehicles servicing up to 100 cruise ships a year.

Mr Lee says a "building with architectural merit" at the foot of Queen St would boost the economic returns of cruise ship visits. He envisages "an elegant building with plenty of glass and light which would be a real centrepiece for the Auckland waterfront".

The terminal could be built for $30 million in time for the rugby, when cruise ships tied up on both sides of the wharf will serve as floating hotels. Air bridges along both sides would convey passengers to the main building.

Mr Lee says the city council "needs to get over its Kiwi bach theme for Queens Wharf".

Mr Banks describes the ARC proposal as a "very expensive glass box which simply closes the wharf down again". A clear difference is emerging between the two parties, he says.

"We want to open up the waterfront for Auckland citizens. The ARC clearly wants to build a very large and expensive cruise ship terminal."

Mr Banks says there is private sector interest in funding his council's proposal. "We're well down the track in negotiations for naming right opportunities."