By BERNARD ORSMAN
The future of the America's Cup Village at the Viaduct Harbour is in limbo after a second attempt in six months to secure it in public ownership failed.
Most of the region's councils want the old home of the America's Cup syndicates to be handed over to Auckland City
Council at no cost.
But a minority of councils and Infrastructure Auckland, which owns the land used by six America's Cup bases, is holding back.
As well as trying to keep the cup village in public ownership for all time, Auckland City is trying to secure Westhaven Marina and Hobson West marinas, which Ports of Auckland have put up for sale by international tender.
Auckland Mayor John Banks yesterday said the same councils who opposed the handover of the cup village last August - Waitakere, Franklin and the Auckland Regional Council - opposed it a second time this month.
Infrastructure Auckland's response had been "mean-spirited and obstructive" from day one.
"I'm committed for that land to be public open space," said Mr Banks.
The votes to transfer the land were taken at meetings of authorities which comprise the electoral college of Infrastructure Auckland.
The opponents believe handing over the cup village at no cost would mean less money for Infrastructure Auckland to spend on public transport and stormwater projects.
Complicating matters is the Government's $1.6 billion transport package to solve the city's congestion, which includes transferring ownership of Infrastructure Auckland and its America's Cup Village Ltd subsidiary, to the ARC.
Infrastructure Auckland chairman John Robertson has written to interested councils and Finance Minister Michael Cullen on the issue, saying the board is prepared to reconsider handing over the cup village to Auckland City as long as there is agreement from all the parties.
However, even if there was agreement, Mr Robertson said there were still the issues of an $11 million debt run up by America's Cup Village Ltd, gift duty running to millions of dollars and public consultation to go through.
Mr Robertson said the Government could solve the issue with the "stroke of the pen" when it changed Infrastructure Auckland's legislation this year by inserting a clause to hand over the America's Cup Village shares to Auckland City rather than the ARC.
Chris McKenzie, a senior adviser to Dr Cullen, will discuss the issue with Infrastructure Auckland next week.
ARC chairwoman Gwen Bull said no decision had been taken on a response to Mr Robertson's letter.
Meanwhile, Auckland Regional Council councillors Mike Lee and Sandra Coney have failed to win their council's support for a moratorium on the sale of the Westhaven and Hobson West marinas.
They were out-manoeuvred at Monday's meeting by Auckland Citizens & Ratepayers Now councillor Catherine Harland who won backing for a report on the issue, a move Mr Lee called "cynical" because it did nothing to halt the sale.
Auckland City has received tender documents for the marina sale from Ports of Auckland and is looking at how it could pay for the marinas if it decides to put in a bid.
The council is waiting on an opinion from constitutional lawyer Sir Geoffrey Palmer on whether Westhaven is public property and should be gifted to Aucklanders at no cost. The opinion is a week or so away.
The council's waterfront working party chairman, Scott Milne, said the council had an agreement from the ports company to talk about the future of their other non-core assets, including Wynyard, Queens, Princes Wharves and Teal Park.
"There is concern at Auckland City that Ports of Auckland are in a piecemeal fashion disposing of assets and the council can see some advantage in discussing their plans so the city can take a holistic approach to future development of the waterfront," Mr Milne said.
The story so far
Six of the 10 America's Cup bases are publicly owned by America's Cup Village Ltd.
March 2003: Auckland City announces plans to keep the Halsey St bases in public hands for a marine events centre.
August 2003: Electoral college of Infrastructure Auckland votes to transfer the land to Auckland City at no cost.
December 2003: Government's transport package delays a handover.
February 13: Electoral college votes a second time for handover to Auckland City.
February 19: Infrastructure Auckland chairman John Robertson writes letter seeking a solution.
Read more in our Marine News section
By BERNARD ORSMAN
The future of the America's Cup Village at the Viaduct Harbour is in limbo after a second attempt in six months to secure it in public ownership failed.
Most of the region's councils want the old home of the America's Cup syndicates to be handed over to Auckland City
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