Why are New Zealand taxpayers and Auckland ratepayers having to stump up with $40million (so far) for a 'party central' venue on Queens Wharf when there is a purpose built (yes, it was built for the America's Cup defence) venue just over 300m away at the Viaduct Harbour?
I admit that there is a need for a cruise ship terminal on the Auckland Waterfront, but I fail to see the point of building a new 'party' venue when there is an existing venue with over 30 restaurants and bars within spitting distance.
Have I missed something? Is there something fundamentally wrong with the Viaduct? The only advantage I see for Queens Wharf is that it's ever so slightly closer to the Britomart Transport Centre, and feeds directly off Queen St, but I would have thought that an existing, popular venue would have worked just as well - if not slightly better.
Because the Viaduct has residential quarters (and people who live their who complain of excessive noise and traffic disruption) and people with cars, as does Princes Wharf rendering both venues completely unsuitable and unsafe for tens of thousands of under-age ragers and rugby louts falling over themselves in public spaces with alcohol in their hands.
Sally forth and take a trip down there Friday afternoon and night and you will see. I would also predict the Hilton not too impressed with further disruptions to its high paying guests of mass people traffic. I lived on the Wharf for years and was disgusted at the lack of policing of cars vs pedestrians on the wharf, many too drunk to stand.
I predict the Queens Wharf project to be a complete disaster, at least a couple of deaths of pissheads falling into the water over barriers and cost over run galores. Princes Wharf looks damn ugly now and it is in severe need of a facelift and there's still a lifetime to go on the lease, the apartments are not holding their value and bars struggling for patrons.
Obviously the National Party answer to getting the country out of recession is for all of you to get tanked and spend stupid amounts of money going out.
Visionary.
Posted by: Cactus Kate | Tuesday, 16 June 2009 at 11:37 AM
Cactus - please stop saying sensible things. It's disconcerting.
Posted by: Jordan Carter | Tuesday, 16 June 2009 at 12:35 PM
Just doing my bit Jordan. I shall spend more money in the near future tipping champagne and fine food down my throat for the good of the country at the Viaduct and Princes Wharf.
John Key said so. Must be good for you.
Posted by: Cactus Kate | Tuesday, 16 June 2009 at 03:38 PM
Even back in the old days I used to walk around there and think if only some big company would buy the whole damn area and develop it into a "party central" (or just shops) they should be able to make a fortune.
Sure this is a down time in the economic cycle and apartment values are going down and businesses are struggling - but down times are when governments and smart businesses with a lot of capital buy and develop.
Of course to know if it is a good thing we would also need to know if they overpaid, as well as all the information on likely Darwin Awards etc.
Posted by: GNZ | Wednesday, 17 June 2009 at 08:02 AM
I head about this before, wasn't too concerned as I was under the impression it was going to be paid for by Auckland rate payers. But now you say tax payers are going to stump up for it too? Aw hell no! I don't even drink! Why the hell would I want to fund pissheads in Auckland to renovate a tin shed cos they are too lazy to walk 300 meters to the viaduct?
It should be paid for by investors who would ensure it's done properly so to maximise their profits, not by the tax payers like myself who, mark my words, will never use the damn thing. If it was, say, a hospital or a public school, sure, use taxpayers money. But for a "party central", you're dreaming!
Posted by: Cal | Saturday, 20 June 2009 at 02:23 PM
Well, I have landed and I can report to you that everything I remember about Princes Wharf is true. I have an apartment here at the Hilton on the water and it is TOO FUCKING COLD to even walk down the Wharf. While RWC 2011 is in a September, it doesn't warm up on the water until at least November. I'd forgotten how cold that wind was.
Come to NZ, party on the Queens Wharf and freeze your balls off.
Posted by: Cactus Kate | Monday, 22 June 2009 at 11:50 PM
Sounds like the perfect advertising slogan.
More seriously: did much public funding go into the development of the Viaduct? Does anyone remember? Central govt as opposed to local govt? I suspect both but can't recall. I do recall the fuss that Newmarket and Ponsonby made - it was claimed it would draw everyone away and destroy the nightlife elsewhere. How wrong they were.
Posted by: Jordan Carter | Tuesday, 23 June 2009 at 10:21 AM
The Viaduct has actually been done really quite well developmental wise. It's professionally managed and better still is "owned" by the same people so it is consistent visually and management wise.
Princes Wharf is the issue v Queens Wharf here as I saw the "creative vision" and it included landscaped gardens and all sorts of visual features that have never come to fruition.
Posted by: Cactus Kate | Tuesday, 23 June 2009 at 11:30 PM