Most back stopgap 'party central' plan

The poll showed 78 per cent agreement that the cup should not influence the hasty major redevelopment of the wharf. Photo / Brett Phibbs

More than half of Aucklanders support the Government's plans for a temporary Rugby World Cup 2011 "party central" on Queens Wharf.

A Herald-DigiPoll survey asked 731 respondents across Auckland whether they supported or opposed the plans for a temporary structure for an official fan zone during the cup from September 9 to October 23.

The poll resulted in 53.2 per cent supporting the Government plans and 37.7 per cent against.

Strongest support came from the 18-39 age group (65.6 per cent) while the 60-years-plus group was the most against (50.4 per cent).

Support was evenly split among men and women.

Last month, the Auckland 2011 organisation polled a similar number of people and found that nearly half affirmed the waterfront as their preferred location for cup celebrations.

Yesterday, Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said the Herald-DigiPoll result was consistent with Heart of the City's own poll of 1000 people.

This was done after a plan for a $97 million building on Queens Wharf, including facilities for cruise ships, was floated. It showed 78 per cent agreement that the cup should not influence the hasty major redevelopment of the wharf.

The region's mayors voted against the plan in February and on April 20, Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully and Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee unveiled a plan for a $9.6 million temporary curved pavilion to be the focus for party central and a temporary cruise ship terminal.

Mr Swney said the temporary "slug" pavilion suited those Aucklanders who did not want their waterfront spoiled by a permanent building conceived in haste.

A further poll subject should be whether the temporary solution should include demolition of the twin cargo sheds or keep them, as he preferred.

But Mr McCully read the Herald-DigiPoll poll as showing enthusiasm for the Government's attempts to find an appropriate venue for public gatherings.

Mr Lee said party central was not an ARC idea though he supported using Queens Wharf for cup festivities and believed that as time went by a lot of the negativity to it would fall away.

The ARC was working with the Historic Places Trust and architects Jasmax to try to find a solution to the row over whether the sheds should go or be used in the wharf redevelopment.

"We want to see if there can be some creative fusion then take it out to the people and see what they think."

Auckland Rugby World Cup 2011 spokesman Michael Barnett said the poll proved the good sense of the opportunity offered by two cruise ships being berthed at the wharf for the cup.

"It's going to be a temporary city of 5000 to 6000 and we have a lot of New Zealanders who want to meet and socialise with visitors."

Auckland Mayor John Banks, who wants the sheds to stay, said he hoped the cup was going to be "a celebration of party centrals" including Queens Wharf.

"We have to spread the benefits and share hospitality."