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Come in Auckland. You seem to be drifting off course. It's not a promising sign from a city that is supposed to be staring down the barrel of a bright new future.
At a time Auckland needs a clear, level head, it seems to be foundering in uncertainty. Haste is one of the culprits. A lack of leadership is the other. Auckland's high powered stakeholders from the Beehive to Auckland's CBD need to stop and take some very deep breaths. A cup of tea might help too.
First, there's been a mad rush to spend $47 million creating "Party Central" at Queens Wharf . Few city dwellers oppose opening up the heavily gated area. The problem is the rush to do so in time for Rugby World Cup 2011 has turned it into an embarrassment the city could do without.
A hastily organised design competition that allowed selected finalists to enter at the second stage, has cast doubt over the credibility and transparency of the p rocess. Aucklanders are unimpressed with the eight final designs, as are many architects, Mayor John Banks and ARC Chairman, Mike Lee. The latest speculation is that the competition will be scrapped. It is hardly the stuff of an aspiring world class city with an eye to the future.
There has been much talk of an iconic waterfront building on this site. Something akin to Sydney's Opera House which now ranks as one of the 20th century's most distinctive buildings and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It is difficult to believe that in its current state Auckland has the "smarts", capability or determination to achieve a building of similar status. History reveals the long and difficult journey that led to Sydney's completed icon is one that would simply be beyond indecisive Auckland.
A more realistic starting point is surely a wide ranging discussion over the best use of $47 million. Talk that canvassed whether two old cargo sheds on Queens Wharf are worth preserving and how an overall development would fit with Auckland's long term development.
There is no need to panic about RWC 2011. Let's face it, Party Central could be anywhere. The punters will go so long as it's accessible and fully equipped with spectator essentials, a well-stocked bar, large viewing screens and a bit of good old Kiwi ambience.
Perhaps the bungling over Queens Wharf would not feel so uncomfortable if it hadn't coincided with the release of independent research on Auckland as a super city . The survey for law firm, Brookfields, canvassed the views of 1,000 people with direct interests in local government. Council staff, officials, contractors, suppliers and consultants were among 300 respondents.
The survey found most liked the concept of a super city. That approval was offset by a number of concerns. The majority felt they would pay more to live and do business in the super city. More than half doubted, after all the upheaval, they would be any better off. A high percentage was unhappy with the lack of information coming from the body in charge of change - the Auckland Transition Agency.
Cue the unavailability of ATA Chair, Mark Ford, to comment on Brookfields' research. Media were told Ford was too busy for interviews as he was in discussions with council staff over staffing levels. Fair enough. But most council workers head home at 5pm. The media does not. Ford was not available to appear on TVNZ's Breakfast the following day.
The ATA might like to review the wisdom of attempting to go about its mammoth task in an almost invisible fashion. It might also like to ponder whether this approach is contributing to a rising tide of public unease over Auckland's reformation. That is a shame given the positivity that followed the Royal Commission's initial findings. Perhaps the accessibility of helpful Royal Commission staffers played a part in that?
Whatever it was is now long gone. The Transition Agency needs to give urgent consideration to actually getting onside with the ratepayers it is working for. Politicians would also be smart to focus on people rather than future aspirations. Some serious leadership is needed right now, in the midst of huge change. Without it, Auckland is rudderless. The City of Sails is starting to leak like a sieve.
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