Auckland wants convention dollars

By Phil Boeyen, ShareChat Business News Editor

Monday 17th December 2001

Auckland City Council is planning to spend up to $200,000 on a feasibility study for a convention centre in the city.

The council says the study will look at the viability of a convention centre, either alongside the Aotea Centre or another suitable site in or near the central business district.

Council spokesperson, Scott Milne, says studies have found that the city is missing out on tens of millions of dollars in revenue because it lacks an international-standard venue for conventions.

He says the council will ask for private-sector interests to put forward their ideas for a centre, and indicate how they expect the council to be involved.

"Submissions from the private sector would need to be assessed for the March council meeting when decisions will be made on which projects will be included in the 2002/03 annual plan."

In November the council reconfirmed its commitment to an indoor arena at Quay Park, short-listing three bids to come up with a full proposal. The council will decide in March which, if any, of the bids is selected to proceed, alongside decisions on a convention centre.

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