23 Nov 2009

Extra accommodation in Wellington for Rugby World Cup

1:30 pm on 23 November 2009

A temporary caravan park will be built on Wellington's waterfront to provide extra accommodation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Wellington City Council on Thursday approved the caravan park for Queens Wharf in the central city, on land now earmarked for building.

The councillor in charge of urban development Andy Foster says because of the recession the land is not likely to be built on during the next three years.

He says the World Cup will put pressure on accommodation in the capital, which this plan will ease.

Mr Foster says the park will hold about 40 caravans at a cost of about $30 each per night.

At present, people who visit Wellington in camper vans are parking in vacant lots and on Wellington's south coast.

Mr Foster says the caravan park will provide toilets and other facilities for the visitors.

He says a temporary ice-skating rink may also be put on the waterfront.