Carpark fix may shut Auckland concert halls for up to two years

Repair work may force the Aotea Centre to close its doors to concerts and conventions. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Two of Auckland's main venues for classical music concerts and business conventions could be out of action for up to two years because of repairs.

Aotea Centre and Auckland Town Hall management have stopped taking firm bookings for a two-year period from 2008 because of possible construction work in the area.

Disruption is expected if the Auckland City Council goes ahead with a $50 million replacement of the leaking roof of the Civic carpark which lies under the Aotea Centre and Aotea Square.

But the project could take longer should the council decide to make the roof high enough to build an underground street and an expanded Aotea Centre as part of Mayor Dick Hubbard's "Outside the Square" idea.

Venue managers The Edge said yesterday they were advising clients that they could take only pencil bookings for the period November 2008 to September 2010.

"Clearly this news is going to have a major impact on our largest revenue earner, the Auckland Convention Centre at The Edge," said The Edge chairman, David Wolfenden.

He said it would also have a substantial impact on the NZ Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Opera and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

The square would also close for general public use and the regular market.

The Edge handles 1500 performances, conventions and events a year which are attended by 1.3 million people.

It earns $12 million a year from its convention and commercial entertainment facilities, including the Civic Theatre, which won't be affected by any works.

Mr Wolfenden said that last year The Edge generated $5.7 million net profit from its meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.

Although it could be six months before the council could confirm the timing and scope of construction, he said, The Edge had no choice but to advise its clients now.

Convention events were bid for and booked years in advance.

"Our bookings for this period are already substantial and these clients want to proceed to a contract.

"We have to say that while we can take their bookings we cannot guarantee the venues will be useable and so they need a back-up."

Mr Wolfenden said the centre actively identified and attracted convention business to the country.

Eight hotels were within walking distance of the centre.

The Edge was working with them to ensure as much of its international and domestic convention business as possible was retained in Auckland.

Tourism Auckland was yesterday unable to comment on the possible impact on the city's business tourism sector.

Mr Wolfenden said The Edge board was still assessing the implications and ways to mitigate a significant loss of revenue.

One of the long-term aims was to become the national performing arts and convention centre.

The Outside the Square exercise included the possibility of a purpose-built national convention centre on the Aotea site.

A feasibility study on this was now into the location identification phase, he said.

"We hope the city council will seize the expanded, iconic Aotea Centre option for the convention centre and do it all at once so that we can turn this major setback into a good news story for Auckland and New Zealand."

Auckland City Council last year paid The Edge $3.7 million to deliver its arts agenda/performing arts policy and the events draw 450,000 people a year from throughout the region.