City refuses to release reports on Tank Farm

Too much secrecy surrounds the financing and governance of the largest waterfront development in Auckland's history, says former Auckland City councillor Greg McKeown.

Mr McKeown, representing the Heart of the City retail business group, and the Herald have been seeking information about the cost to the public and who will be in charge of the 35ha Tank Farm development.

Auckland City chief executive David Rankin has refused an Official Information Act request by the Herald to release four reports relating to the Tank Farm that went to the council's urban strategy and governance committee on April 6.

Mr Rankin said he would not release the reports because it would hamper "free and frank" talks between various landowners that often included commercially sensitive information.

Mr McKeown said the commercial position of private landowners needed to be considered "but that is not an excuse for withholding all financial information relating to the costs of the Tank Farm redevelopment".

Most of the main players were public bodies - Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council - or publicly owned by the ARC, such as Ports of Auckland, America's Cup Village - and it was a nonsense to claim confidentiality.

The Committee for Auckland - a non-political charitable trust that promotes the region's development - has also been calling for transparency on a governance model for the Tank Farm.

"The public are really behind this project. There is a lot of enthusiasm for it and they deserve to know exactly the process by which it is going to come about," said Committee for Auckland chairman Sir Ron Carter last month.

So far, politicians have said nothing publicly about a governance model for the Tank Farm but it is understood the city council is secretly working on a joint venture with Ports of Auckland to manage the project.

The ARC and Auckland City have been equally vague about the costs, particularly the cost of answering a strong public demand for one big park covering most of the 8ha headland jutting into the Waitemata Harbour.

An organisation is about to be launched to campaign for the park.

"There is not a single paper after a year and a half that puts some facts and figures in front of the Auckland public about the cost of the project," said Mr McKeown.

So far, the city council has put only a ballpark figure of $300 million for things such as roading, stormwater and parks over the next 10 years. It has also said a $82 million underpass for Fanshawe St and a $35 million movable bridge linking the Viaduct Harbour with the Tank Farm will be funded by development contributions.

THE PLAN

What is the Tank Farm project?

A plan to redevelop 35ha of prime Auckland City waterfront land, dominated by the existing Tank Farm.

Why is it controversial?

Initial plans suggested high-rise apartments at the water's edge. Critics now worry that no real progress will be made unless a single body is appointed to take charge of the project.