KEY POINTS:
A stadium on the Auckland waterfront is history, but the waterfront could still be a big focus for the Rugby World Cup.
A new company has been established to manage the Tank Farm development and its first job is to build an entertainment strip on the western side of Viaduct Harbour in time for an estimated 60,000 international visitors in 2011.
The entertainment strip along Jellicoe St will be linked by a bridge to the Viaduct and downtown Auckland. The design of the bridge could go out to an international design competition.
During last year's debate on a waterfront stadium, Aucklanders overwhelmingly agreed the waterfront needed to be opened up and integrated with the city.
There was strong support for opening up the "finger" wharves - Captain Cook, Marsden and Queen's - used by Ports of Auckland on the eastern harbourside, but there are no immediate plans to do so.
Instead, local politicians are directing their energies to developing the 35ha Tank Farm in stages over the next 20 years.
To speed up and simplify the Tank Farm development, the Auckland Regional Council has taken 20ha owned by Ports of Auckland and put it into a new company, Wynyard Management.
The goal is to deliver a "world-class waterfront environment" with greatly improved public access to the water's edge, mixed with residential, retail, commercial, fishing and marine uses.
The area includes the 8ha headland jutting into the Waitemata Harbour that Aucklanders want to see turned into public space, and some of the former America's Cup base sites on Halsey St.
The ARC owns 100 per cent of the ports company through its investment arm, Auckland Regional Holdings. The other 15ha at the Tank Farm is largely split between Auckland City Council (roads) and a private company, Viaduct Harbour Holdings.
ARH chairwoman Judith Bassett said establishing Wynyard Management was an important step in revitalising the waterfront in a way that was commercially acceptable and delivered great outcomes for Auckland.
The interim board of Wynyard Management is made up of ports company and ARH representatives, including ports company chief executive Geoff Vazey. ARH was seeking people with appropriate skills and experience to join the board, Mrs Bassett said.
Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard yesterday welcomed the ports' land going into the new company so Ports of Auckland could focus on its core business.
It is understood that talks between Auckland City and the ARC over who will pay for open space and public infrastructure are close to being resolved.
This will enable the council to notify a plan change for the Tank Farm from marine industrial use to public space, marine and mixed use.
