By Melissa Davies
Secret meetings have taken place all over Auckland today, as the Government revealed its preference for the Queens Wharf development to the regions mayors.
The main players including Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully, who pulled out all the tricks to hide from the cameras, but their ultimate goal was to try and get consensus that the $100 million revamp should go ahead. That goal was not achieved.
The first in a series of bizarre events, the man tasked with delivering the Government’s preferred plan, Mark Ford, calls the council refusing to come while media are outside.
Then, Mr McCully pulled up and darted across the road to a café, leaving five minutes later.
He and Auckland Mayor John Banks has locked horns on both the design and timeframe for the revamp.
A spokesman in McCully’s office would say only that the consultation process with the mayors was still ongoing, adding that the Government was not looking at one particular plan – but a range of options.
But 3 News spoke to three mayors in the Auckland region today who say they were presented with just one option – a modified version of a Jasmax and Architectus design, which would come at a cost to taxpayers of around $100 million.
“If we’re going to build something down there it has to be great,” says Mr Banks.
“What I’m seeing is not great. It may be good for a rural provincial port somewhere else in New Zealand.”
However Manukau Mayor Len Brown is impressed with the design.
“They seem clear that they would be able to build it between now and the Rugby World Cup,” he says. “For me I think the key issue is, the primary reason for us to drive it through now would be economic gain.”
It’s expected Mr McCully will attend the next scheduled meeting on this issue, around the cabinet table next week.
3 News