14 Mar 2018

New Cup village plan: 'I'm a bit pissed off' - Dalton

11:32 am on 14 March 2018

Team New Zealand is cautiously positive about a new plan for an America's Cup Village in Auckland, but its head Grant Dalton says he's "a bit pissed off".

An artist impression of the government's latest America's Cup village plan, dropping the extension of Hobson Wharf on the eastern side.

An artist impression of the government's latest America's Cup village plan, dropping the extension of Hobson Wharf on the eastern side. Photo: Supplied to RNZ

Mr Dalton, the chief executive, said there were unanswered questions about whether the government's new plan could be built on time and there was no agreement yet.

The new plan drops a previously-planned extension of Hobson Wharf which would have been the permanent home for Team New Zealand.

It retains a smaller extension of Halsey Street Wharf, but aims to clear a second bulk fuel storage facility on Wynyard Point to create more space.

It was that facility which was holding up a decision.

"This negotiation [with Bulk Storage Terminals] needs to be concluded before this plan could be considered viable," Mr Dalton said.

"The government is seeking a second expert opinion on the timetable issue and we support them in doing this.

"There is little point in agreeing to a plan that can't be delivered on time," Mr Dalton said.

He was critical, however, of the government's lead minister David Parker stepping away from what Mr Dalton called a "commitment" that the team would get a permanent base on Hobson Wharf.

"To be honest I'm a bit pissed off with this, but I will live with an equal base at the eastern end of Halsey Street Wharf."

"He has been forced by Viaduct Harbour Holdings threat to disrupt the resource consent process to back away from that."

Negotiations continue on the village plan, and separately on how to share the costs of the 2021 regatta between Team NZ and the public sector.

"We have a meeting with challengers in Europe at the end of this month, and confirmation of Auckland as a venue, and the class (boat design) rule, are eagerly awaited by them," Mr Dalton said.

Meanwhile the environmental lobby group Stop Stealing Our Harbour has come out strongly against the new plan.

Co-founder Michael Goldwater said the 45-metre extension of Halsey Street Wharf is like building a concrete rugby field on the inner harbour.

"We find it totally unacceptable and we'll oppose it in the planning process," he said.

Mr Goldwater said the group's position is unchanged, that all the bases can be accommodated on existing land on Wynyard Point.