Gondola hopeful in for rough ride from neighbourhood
ARO VALLEY residents are joining forces against a proposed gondola project, saying they do not want crowds, noise or disruption in their peaceful backyard.
But Seal Coast Safari director John Mckinney, who has put forward the idea, remains hopeful he can win them over.
Mr Mckinney, who has conducted feasibility studies, proposes a gondola from the end of Holloway Rd to Polhill Reserve. He is planning a log-cabin style restaurant and souvenir shop with panoramic views at the top and said the entire project could cost between $12 million and $14m.
Aro Community Council cochairwoman Jane O’loughlin said there were many problems with the idea and it all seemed ‘‘very pie in the sky’’.
She said increased traffic would be a problem on a narrow street such as Holloway Rd, as would building on reserve land. ‘‘People up there quite like the peace and quiet, I cannot imagine they would welcome this kind of activity.’’
City councillor and Holloway Rd resident Stephanie Cook said she and others thought it was a ‘‘shocking idea’’. She said the reserve at the end of the street was a tranquil area and the notion of a gondola full of tourists was completely contrary to that.
‘‘Good on him for coming up with some great ideas for Wellington, but this is not the place for a gondola.’’
Mayor Celia Wade-brown was unaware of the proposal, and said she would need to see more detail. However, she doubted residents would welcome the development.
‘‘I’ll be interested to see any more details, but I think the focus of most of our tourism is to enjoy the natural environment by getting out into it, and I think most Aro Valley residents might find a gondola a little intrusive.’’
Further to his proposal, Mr Mckinney wants to set up and fund a Holloway Rd preservation trust. He is proposing to contribute at least $1m every 10 years to the trust.
Electric buses could address any traffic worries, he said.
‘‘I would like to explain the proposal better to them [residents]. It’s an obvious reaction but if they get to know the positive benefits I hope to win them over. Everyone’s got that feeling of ‘not in my backyard’.’’
Holloway Rd resident Don Franks has lived on the road for 26 years and said he had spoken to only one neighbour who was in favour of the idea.
‘‘I thought someone was having a laugh. I guess it is our backyard but it depends on what they are going to stick in your backyard – some things are nice.’’
Mr Mckinney has been working as a tour operator in the capital for more than 15 years and has been planning this gondola project for about a year. He plans to cover the costs of initial studies but hopes shareholders will pay for the project.
This is not the first time a gondola attraction has been proposed in the capital. In 2010, a council candidate held preliminary talks with tourist operators on three potential sites: Wrights Hill, Mt Crawford and Mt Albert Park.
In 2009, a gondola was proposed from the Shelly Bay car park to a casino in what is now Wellington Prison. A gondola development from Oriental Bay to a revolving restaurant near the Mt Victoria lookout was proposed in the 1990s.