KEY POINTS:
Developing Queens Wharf as a "place of excitement" is critical to moves to open up visitor access to Auckland's CBD, says a champion of boosting the region's earnings from tourism.
David McConnell, of McConnell International, heads development of a new visitor plan which says investment could increase visitor spending in the Auckland region by $12 billion and deliver additional benefits to residents over the next decade.
He said yesterday that moves by the Auckland Regional Council to make the central waterfront wharf a major terminal for cruise ships and include a signature exhibition and public amenity were on the right track.
Developing signature attractions and visitor experiences were part of the transformation of Auckland from a gateway to a world-class destination, said Mr McConnell.
The 3ha Queens Wharf was a critical part of the "dog bone" which stretched down Quay St from the Vector Arena in the east to the proposed Wynyard Pt (Tank Farm) redevelopment in the west.
"If you are going to do something there, do it well. You don't want to turn around 10 years' later and think, why did we do that?
"You have to be sensitive to the key visitor access to the CBD which is Queen St and Quay St through to Jellicoe St.
"You could have a signature building on Queens Wharf but make sure you leverage off its environment - think about how the space can work.
"We must leverage it as a place of excitement that attracts people but use the cruise ship terminal as a catalyst for its development."
Mr McConnell helped to guide "Bringing the World to Auckland", a report by the ARC economic agency AucklandPlus.
Financial modelling in the report showed that visitors to Auckland boosted the region's base population by 5.5 per cent. But if that were to grow to 7.8 per cent by 2018, the corresponding rise in direct visitor spending over that period would be $12 billion.
"The economic benefit makes it a good investment but it also underwrites our level of amenity in what is potentially a great city," said Mr McConnell.
A big convention centre is also proposed as a key part of the city's future tourism services, though a site in the Aotea Centre area has been, so far, more favoured than a waterfront location.
Tourism Holdings chief executive Trevor Hall said it was the critical facility missing from Auckland.
"Every major state in Australia has one and it provides a significant boost to the whole city," he said.
