Queens Wharf design contest scrapped 

Source: ONE NewsQueens Wharf

The design competition for the redevelopment of Auckland's Queens Wharf, which will cost ratepayers $56 million, has been scrapped.

Eight finalists had been selected for the development, also planned to be "party central" for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
 
It's now unlikely to be finished before then after local leaders decided the designs were not up to scratch.
 
"The citizens of Auckland didn't want us to compromise the magnificence of our waterfront," says John Banks, Auckland mayor.

Banks says local councils will "take time to have a cup of tea" and decide what to do next with the project.

What do you think of the Queens Wharf decision? Share your thoughts on the messageboard below.

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ritaanne ; 2009-11-11 @ 15:20 NZDT  

This is not fair on the competition entrants who spent much time putting together a submission free of charge!! Obviously there was not enough budgetted to achieve the magnificance wanted or there wouldve been gd options from the quality entrants. Secondly isnt it more important, in the long term, to save our coastal beaches from the sewerage and other pollutants than build a magnificent building? This project has been put off till 2010 last I heard!

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R_MG ; 2009-11-11 @ 14:33 NZDT  

Mike Lee wants an iconic building on the waterfront. The budget allocated for this project wouldn't cover the cost of the front steps of the Sydney Opera House. Just as an example, the new WTO train station in New York has blown out to over 2 billion US dollars Furthermore, many ward-winning buildings in NZ are cheap imitations of work being done elsewhere. Lets no be parochial, get a proper budget, hold an international competition and build NZ's first Globally significant building.

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wilmac ; 2009-11-06 @ 09:51 NZDT  

For the first and probably the only time, I agree with John Banks that the developement of Queens Wharf is not about the RWC! As much as I like watching sport and hope the the AB's do well in the RWC I also think that the waterfront should be a showcase for the city and that the passenger terminal should be a priority not just the 'party central' aspect!! Our International Airport is world class and so should our arrivals terminal for cruise ship passengers. At present it is abysmal!

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nobby_nz ; 2009-11-05 @ 20:19 NZDT  

What a great idea! Let's put a fantastic proposal together, get everybosy excited about it, wait a while then scrap it and go for a 2nd class option that may or may not be ready for the RWC - Deja Vouz all over again - think harbour front stadium...the short sightedness of Auckland councillors never fails to amaze me.....I'm sure we'll end up with Party central being a pub in Kingsland simply due to the fact that a member of the ARC has an interest in it......

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seeare ; 2009-11-05 @ 19:18 NZDT  

Typical Auckland, yet again they dither, yet again laughing stock, Super city I don't think so.. As for banks... Yeah right.....

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