SkyCity plans country's biggest venue

The SkyCity plan has been submitted to the Auckland City Council. Photo / Dean Purcell

SkyCity wants to build an Auckland convention centre that would be the biggest in New Zealand, able to hold thousands of people.

It plans to build over a city centre street to link its current structures, but says it will budget for street improvements that would lift the area.

The plan is in response to a Government request for a national convention centre, and could be ready in time for the Rugby World Cup.

SkyCity wants to build over much of Federal St between Wellesley St and Victoria St.

It plans to join one level of the SkyCity Grand Hotel, which already has conference areas, to the adjacent SkyCity Hotel, Casino and SkyTower buildings.

The SkyCity plan has been submitted to the Auckland City Council.

The council's group manager for urban design, Ludo Campbell-Reid, told the city development committee that a structure 48m long, 9m high and 13m above the street was proposed.

"SkyCity has proposed extending its conference facility by extending level five of its existing building into the airspace over Federal St," he added.

But he said the structure was "polarising" opinions as some members of the Urban Design Panel were opposed to building above a public street.

But in return for being able to build above the street, across which SkyCity already has an airbridge, the company has offered to pay so the council could afford to landscape and redevelop Federal St, making it a "shared space" for cars and pedestrians.

The council has some appetite for that, although some officials say SkyCity's plan is too small and a venue for 3000 to 5000 people is needed.

Mr Campbell-Reid said Federal St was now a dark, uninviting area with blank facades, dominated by carparking and it could be changed by the proposal.

Auckland City had not budgeted to improve the area, and SkyCity's buildings already spanned 70 per cent of the street, he said.

"The quality of the public realm is poor. However, the council alone cannot transform the area.'

SkyCity would also create shops and restaurants along that part of Federal St, possibly removing both carparking entries to its underground carpark on Federal St.

SkyCity's general counsel and company secretary, Peter Treacy, said the plans were in response to a call from the Minister of Economic Development, Gerry Brownlee.

Moller Architects had been working on SkyCity's plans which would enable the business to cater for 1600 people at banquets.

Now, it can cater for 1200, and Mr Campbell-Reid said no other Auckland venue could seat so many.

"For instance, The Edge, which has similar lecture-style capacity to SkyCity, can only banquet 650 people." New Zealand had long sought to have the ability to host large-scale international conferences and exhibitions, he said.

If no one objects or appeals against the plan, SkyCity could have it ready for the rugby cup next year.

Thinking big:

* SkyCity plans a 48m-long building over Federal St

* Company will give money for improving the area

* Development will link five-star hotel with casino

* It will create a 2000-seat conference venue

* Plan fast-tracked for RWC2011