Agreement on Cup village close despite opposition

10:32 pm on 14 March 2018

The government's lead minister for the America's cup believes agreement is closer on a cup village layout, despite a flurry of opposition to the latest.

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MP David Parker says an agreement is close. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

The minister for economic development David Parker said the latest plan - revealed by Team New Zealand - is the cheapest of four options at $140 million.

It drops the planned extension to Hobson Wharf, but includes a 45-metre extension of Halsey Street Wharf to accommodate Team New Zealand and one challenger.

The plan requires the removal of a second bulk fuel storage facility from Wynyard Point to create more space there for bases.

But the warmest response to the new plan, has been from Team New Zealand which has said only that it might work, but there remain unanswered questions.

The chief executive Grant Dalton has questioned how long negotiations would take over the second tank farm, and whether the Wynyard bases could be built in time.

The lobby group Stop Stealing Our Harbour remains strongly opposed to any construction over the existing harbour.

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

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

Similar arguments are advanced by a major landowner in the area Viaduct Harbour Holdings which is against the construction of what it calls a rugby-field sized wharf extension.

Chief executive Angela Bull said she stands by her firm's proposal, which puts all but one base on Wynyard Point.

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Photo: Supplied

Grant Dalton has blamed lobbying and threat of a legal challenge from VHH, for Mr Parker dropping what the team took as a promise that it would get a base on Hobson Wharf.

Estimated costings released by Mr Parker may not include the cost of land remediation on Wynyard Point, when long-standing fuel tanks are removed.

1. Is the December Council/TeamNZ plan  2. Last Month's Parker/Phil Goff option. 3. A Team NZ variation based around Halsey Street Wharf, and 4. Today's proposal.

1. Is the December Council/TeamNZ plan 2. Last Month's Parker/Phil Goff option. 3. A Team NZ variation based around Halsey Street Wharf, and 4. Today's proposal. Photo: RNZ / Supplied

No agreement has yet been reached on either the base plan, or the sharing of costs between Team New Zealand and the government for the event itself.