WELLINGTONIANS may not be able to have a say over proposed developments on the waterfront.
The 2010/11 Waterfront Development Plan is being discussed by the Wellington City Council on Thursday. Councillors will then vote whether or not to open it up for public consultation.
Councillor Iona Pannett is not happy with the plan, which is managed by council-owned company Wellington Waterfront Limited (WWL).
Pannett says the council wants a plan change for Waitangi Park, similar to Kumutoto’s Variation 11, which restricts the public’s right to have input into developments.
“There are three buildings planned for around Waitangi Park, but they’re proposing to approach it so the public don’t get any say,” she says. “Two of the [proposed] buildings are apartments, which would help pay for some of the development, but [Waitangi Park] is prime real-estate. I don’t know if we should be building on this part of the waterfront.”
Pannett is also concerned that despite public outcry, WWL has been unable to reduce costs of the proposed $400,000 toilet at Kumutoto.
“Is it right to be spending that much money on toilets? A standard toilet for us costs $100,000.”
Waterfront Limited CEO Ian Pike says independent advice to the council approved the design of the toilets.
It’s not possible to build that design that much more cheaply than $400,000 Pike says.
“If it costs more than $400,000 we won’t do it. If it’s $400,000 or less, we will,” Pike says.
Pannett’s final concern is the cost of the overall project, which keeps going up.
However, Pike says although the overall cost will be greater, Wellington Waterfront Limited will be borrowing $1.2 million less than predicted from the council, because of “previously unbudgeted receipts coming in that will make up the difference”.
“But that isn’t including some significant costs, like the master plan for Queens Wharf or the Taranaki Street Bridge,” argues Pannett.
To read the plan in-depth visit www.wellington.govt.nz.