Eyesores don’t belong on waterfronts
exclusive to New Zealand, but it’s something that’s easily fixed. We could move the roads!
You may say I’m a dreamer… but I’m not the only one.
Maybe I am the only one, I don’t know, maybe people like roads on beaches?
My point is, the more I travel around the country the more I notice missed opportunities to take advantage of our beautiful coastline.
My favourite example is New Plymouth. When I think of Taranaki I think of the mountain, the rugby team, and a cow.
I don’t think of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I think that’s because they haven’t quite taken advantage of their unbelievable location.
On the day New Plymouth had its town planning meeting and asked what it should we do with its multimillion-dollar coastline it decided on a railway line, a four-lane highway, a multi-storey carpark, a city centre mall (conveniently titled The Centre City Mall) with no windows, and a Bunnings warehouse (also with no windows).
New Plymouth has done a lot to improve its waterfront, but putting large buildings and difficult-to-cross roads near our coastlines seems to be a tradition more Kiwi than throwing stuff at politicians on Waitangi Day.
Wellington – one of our most famous waterfronts – is not much better, building not one, but three, stadiums on the waterfront.
They’re all named after banks: TSB Arena, Westpac Stadium and the new ASB Sports stadium are three fantastic facilities that have frustratingly been built across what could be a beautiful vista.
Dunedin has done the same thing, my hometown of Nelson covered its waterfront with a port, a road and, at one point, a rubbish dump.
Now, in 2018, after all these squandered opportunities, Auckland is looking to make the same mistake.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m 100 per cent in favour of a centrally located rugby/concert venue. Just please don’t build it across our beautiful waterfront.
Waterfronts are for looking out, not looking in (that might be the smartest thing I have ever said).
They’re for recreation, everyday living and novelty public art that everyone hates. They’re not for huge, windowless eyesores that will be occupied for, at best, 50 days a year.
No doubt it’s very hard to find a location in central Auckland big enough for a stadium, but let’s not ruin this great opportunity with an atrocity.
Guy’s national tour comes to Wellington and Canterbury this month, full dates and details at guywilliams.co.nz.