America’s Cup: Last chance to support new bases plan

by Emirates Team NZ/Sail-World.com 24 May 2018 16:11 PDT 25 May 2018

The Resource Consent for the 36th America’s Cup bases and infrastructure development has been lodged with the Auckland Council marking an exciting and progressive milestone towards a big summer of America’s Cup racing and celebration in the summer of 2020/21 in Auckland.

This is the second Resource Consent, after the three parties - Auckland Council's development arm Panuku Developments, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and Emirates Team New Zealand reached agreement on a compromise solution, which involved Emirates Team New Zealand moving into the Viaduct Events Centre. Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa is based on an extension to Hobson Wharf and the remainder of the Challengers are based on a new area on the Southern End of Wynyard Point.

It is an especially exciting time for Emirates Team New Zealand preparing to move into a new team base from their current home contained in a former fuel depot building on Beaumont Street, just a few hundred metres away from what will become the hub of the 2021 America’s Cup at the Viaduct Events Centre, the team said in a written statement.

If you made a submission on the first resource consent application, your comments will be noted, but if you wish to appear before the Environment Court you will have to complete a second submission commenting on the changes.

A key point is that the area be retained in perpetuity for America's Cup or other major event use, and not be turned over to developers and others as happened with the Viaduct Harbour development from 2000-2003.

Another issue is the retention of Site 18 and other land for use in superyacht servicing, and again so the sites are not turned over to developers as has happened with the bulk of the land north of fanshawe Street.

Already Emirates Team New Zealand staff led by Base Manager Andy Nottage and key external stakeholders are underway producing working drawings and concept planning of how to turn the Viaduct Events Centre from a function centre into a functioning America’s Cup team base.

“There are some pretty significant renovations that need to happen,” said Nottage.

“These all need to be engineered, consented and the work completed so we can wheel two AC75 boats in and out to launch and obviously have the space functional for the team of boat builders and shore crew to work on them around the clock.”

Along with significant hospitality facilities, a central philosophy of the team is to have a large part of the new base as inclusive to the public as an America’s Cup team can possibly be - albeit with a few heavily guarded doors to protect the design and build innovation that will hopefully see a successful defence of the America’s Cup and ongoing benefit to Auckland and New Zealand for many years to come.

“Emirates Team New Zealand has a pretty amazing history and story which we want to share with as many people as possible,” said CEO Grant Dalton

“We want the base to be a destination for Aucklanders and a must-see attraction for regional and international visitors also.

And it will be inside our base, so the chances of bumping into or being able to interact with a team member are pretty good.”

The concept is to have a highly technical interactive space that supporters can get a first hand feel for the technology, the materials and the innovation Emirates Team New Zealand uses on a day to day basis.

Submissions on the new Resource Consent Application close on Monday May 28. Emirates Team New Zealand and the America's Cup event need your support.

For more information on the application and other links click here

To make your submission online click here