Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A solution in search of somebody else's problem

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  • slarty,

    I think "The Rodney Hide Terminal" has a certain hint of truth to it.

    Rodney Hide. Terminal.

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    You are not the only person who is thinking this way.

    Mr Swney said 78.9 per cent of respondents to the campaign did not want the World Cup to influence hasty redevelopment of the wharf and 85.5 per cent wanted the Super City council and mayor to lead the wharf development in the context of the waterfront plan.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    I predict a trainload of Argintinians will traverse the entire range of emotions from glee to despare. First, their team makes the quarter finals, but then they'll spend the entire match locked in a train somewhere west of Mt Eden prison, victims of switching problems.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Russell, you are doing that grown-up left-brain stuff again. What did Deborah tell you about that? "... Prime Minister John Key says just because it's hard doesn't mean we shouldn't aspire to it."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    For the most part I agree, Russell. I think that McCully's using this whole thing to continue the game of financial chicken with all the other players to see who's going to say "Sure, we'll pay for it!" first.

    One minor quibble though:

    There aren't many bars and restaurants opening onto Quay Street. But surely that's what you'd put in the temporary structures. I imagine that Auckland's restaurants would be delighted to provide some of their fare in market-style stalls for a month. It really doesn't seem that hard.

    I have a bad feeling about this. A month is a hell of a long time to set up a temporary stall, and unless it's very tightly managed the area will get tatty quickly, which will drive people away (after all, they only need to walk ten minutes to get to permanent restaurants and bars.)

    Ambiance is the absolute key here, and the pessimist in me says this isn't going to be possible in an area with a lot of (probably intoxicated) foot traffic squished into it. More space + better space is the only way I can see this working out.

    Edit: And needless to say, I think that transport issues are still the elephant in the room here (after the funding stuff.) Thats' what's absolutely going to kill the experience for most people, even more than how much money was spent on any given building.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • slarty,

    Debbie-babes has obviously been told her columns need to be more like Garth... :)

    Particularly painful in the context of the number of children who died because of this expert...

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Russell, you are doing that grown-up left-brain stuff again. What did Deborah tell you about that? "... Prime Minister John Key says just because it's hard doesn't mean we shouldn't aspire to it."

    i can haz blogwar?

    I bet we can Rick Roll DHC more than she can Rick Roll us...

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    McCully's preferred option won't be happening; not in 571 days. The other options are rather sad. We should use the Viaduct and Aotea Square.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I think that McCully's using this whole thing to continue the game of financial chicken with all the other players to see who's going to say "Sure, we'll pay for it!" first.

    Andre: I know kicking McCully in the slats is the only politically correct blood sport left, but I'm really struggling to see how this is anything more than the kind of RWC dementia that's been going on for a long time. Cheerfully enabled, need I add, by the very people who are now starting to get a warning twinge in the region of their hip pockets. It's too damn late for buyer's remorse, bitches.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    We should use the Viaduct and Aotea Square.

    Absolutely. The Viaduct Basin was good enough to host the stupidity of the America's Cup, it should do fine with a few thousand rugby fans. Aotea Square will by then have its super-screen in place. This screen, despite its $1.5m price-tag is actually something that will be of ongoing use to Auckland - a very similar one adds huge value to Melbourne's Federation Square, contributing to a great number of public events.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    The most sensible option – skittling the ugly sheds on Queen's Wharf and installing high-quality temporary structures for the tournament – also has the considerable virtue of being the cheapest, at $23 million (although even that seems relatively high).

    I took a long, hard, look at them last time I came back from Waiheke. Good God they are an eyesore. The tourists next to me concurred.

    It really doesn't seem that hard.

    It certainly looks like the prime motivation is really an attempt to create McCully's Folly on the harbour.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • Rebecca Williams,

    my main comment is the whole thing gives me a headache and i can't wait until it's over, really. when this kind of event comes along, it seems that people start to treat it as the end date of life, the universe and everything.

    sorry not to add anything constructive ...

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 120 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Andre: I know kicking McCully in the slats is the only politically correct blood sport left, but I'm really struggling to see how this is anything more than the kind of RWC dementia that's been going on for a long time. Cheerfully enabled, need I add, by the very people who are now starting to get a warning twinge in the region of their hip pockets. It's too damn late for buyer's remorse, bitches.

    Well, I don't think McCully's the only offender here by any means, but that doesn't let him off the hook either. The whole funding thing is a clusterfuck that should have been sorted out a year (or more) ago, and the continuing uncertainty around such huge chunks of money is just an embarrassment.

    Besides, doesn't buyer's remorse usually kick in after someone's paid for something? We can always run the whole thing out of a paddock in Taranaki for the price of a couple of bags of oranges and some gas for the barbecues.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Look at them up close and you can see they have been patched up over the years. They are a mess inside as well.

    Future generations will struggle to understand why we knocked down the theatres but kept the sheds.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • elsketcho,

    It's just a shame that the ball was dropped from the lofty heights of some reasonably (for Auckland) visionary design concepts for the Aotea rejuve. Seems like the old concrete square with some readilawn vision was adopted because of budgetary constraints. The same thing may, unfortunately transpire on Queens Wharf. Better than dropping a hundred mil on a bloody big marquee though.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 35 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Sort of on topic: anyone know when Sal's Pizza down near Britomart will be reopening after their refurbishments?

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Stevens,

    You just know it's going to be a naff "Party Central" cause it's Key's idea to start with. He's so hip and down with the fans.

    Even the most expensive of the plans I've seen is only mediocre, not inspiring. There is no way this development should be dependent on the RWC. And no way that Auckland should be forced to pay for it either.

    And as for me, I hope I am overseas the whole time its on.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    ...looking for a good time

    Fort St and K Rd are the traditional venues for that kind of thing, surely?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Besides, doesn't buyer's remorse usually kick in after someone's paid for something?

    The only sensible thing I've ever done is tell my bank (over and over) that I don't want a credit card, and if they'd please stop increasing my overdraft beyond a limit I can rationally service that would be top hole. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Fort St and K Rd are the traditional venues for that kind of thing, surely?

    We need to ensure that Fort St and K Road will be stops on the Walking Bus route.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    We need to ensure that Fort St and K Road will be stops on the Walking Bus route.

    I can just see the hawkers for all the brothels snatching up some of those dayglo yellow vests and directing hordes of confused tourists into "pitstops".

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Fuck it. If we're going to have a "Party Central", we might as well just get lots of barbeques and kegs and hand out free booze. $23 million buys a lot of beer and sausages.

    Actually, I'm only half joking about that - having a very large barbeque going every night would be a great way to show hospitality, rather cheaply, and would contribute to a warm atmosphere. People are always happier with hot food in their bellies.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Roger Lacey,

    To get everyone from Eden Park to the waterfront I'm thinking we need a monorail. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEZjzsnPhnw

    Whatakataka Bay Surf Club… • Since Apr 2008 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    You know, we'll happily take the whole thing off your hands

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    To get everyone from Eden Park to the waterfront I'm thinking we need a monorail.

    Can we have a high speed underground travellator?

    Or perhaps, I know I'm being completely outrageous here, an inner city rail loop?

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

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