Normally I strive not to be cynical, but when I see Waterfront Watch opposing something, my first reaction usually is that whatever the something is, it must be a worthwhile addition to the city’s amenities. This comes from seeing that reactionary organisation oppose almost everything over many years that has made Wellington’s waterfront so wonderful.
Now Waterfront Watch, the Wellington Civic Trust and the usual suspects like councillor Helene Ritchie have succeeded in the Environment Court in
blocking the proposed Hilton Hotel that was planned for the outer T of Queens Wharf.
While I am not qualified to comment on the architectural merits of the proposed Hilton, I liked the idea of having a Hilton there. It was to have replaced a run-down old shed which frankly is an eyesore. It would have brought people and activity to the area 24 hours a day, something the waterfront is still short of. And it would have been the capital’s first five-star hotel, a facility the city desperately needs.
The Hilton proposal has been a long time in gestation and my hope is that this will be only a temporary setback to be overturned on appeal in the fullness of time. The promoter, local company Waterfront Investments, has 15 days to lodge an appeal with the High Court, otherwise, the Environment Court ruling is final.
Writing in Eye of the Fish (which has a photo), Philip says the Hilton design is of a decent quality, and the hotel would bring many economic benefits. “My hope is that the decision was made with the intent [of] preserving the site for an even higher quality project, rather than following a general distaste for commercial waterfront developments.”
Helene Ritchie is reported as saying the decision shows the city council needs to “get real” about the waterfront and acknowledge public concern about how it is being developed.
Recently I had to look up copies of the Evening Post from the 1970s on microfilm in the public library, and I was astonished to see stories back even then where Councillor Ritchie was opposing proposals to make Wellington a better place. I had forgotten how long she has been the council’s resident Jeremiah.
Helene, please take a walk along the waterfront from Oriental Parade to Bunny Street and see for yourself how utterly fantastic it is. Just recall how drab and blocked off from the city it used to be, and imagine how awful it would be today if Waterfront Watch had had its way with everything that has happened there.
While I don’t support Helene Ritchie’s and Waterfront Watch’s opposition to the Hilton and so much else, I do accept they are acting in good faith for what they believe is the city’s best interests. I extend no such acceptance to the Intercontinental hotel, the closest to Queens Wharf, which was also an objector.
Lawyer Con Anastasiou, who represented the Intercontinental and other property owners, reportedly said his clients were delighted with the decision. I bet they were. It staves off what would have been vigorous competition for the top end of the hotel market. That’s even more reason I hope this decision will be overturned on appeal.
4 Comments
March 16, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Well, last time I saw Wellington’s waterfront, that shed was not as pretty as it could’ve been, but I have to wonder, could the outer T of Queen’s Wharf be reasonably expected to support a hotel? Remember, there’s a large and active faultline only a few hundred metres away and it would be sitting on mostly wooden wharf piles (please, correct me if I’m wrong). A decent hotel would be good, but in a location where the guests could very easily and quickly find themselves dumped in the harbour?
Oh, and the Intercontinental’s submission should’ve been accidentally dropped in somebody’s barbeque… for obvious reasons.
March 17, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Chris,
I rather suspect that a new building would require pretty extensive repiling work. As you say, its sitting in a very earthquake prone city/country.
Provided it was no taller than the other new buildings along the waterfront, I think a Hilton could have been good. Of course, the devil is in the detail and the picture on the regional council website is insufficient to form a good idea of how it would look relative to the rest of Queen’s Wharf.
I wonder how the traffic/access issue would have been addressed.
March 18, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I would rather have a new indoor sports centre.
That’s something that will be used by more Wellingtonians than a hotel.
The site is too prominent; a hotel could make the waterfront less accessible.
I’m all for nice hotels here though; I wouldn’t mind if it was on Wakefield St, for example.
March 23, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I’m not sure how I had managed to miss this post until now, but thank you for your reference and commentary.
As far as I know, no appeal has been lodged as of yet. Hopefully the Hilton will be able to find a site elsewhere in Wellington…