Mayor announces proposed extension of Fanzones

Auckland Council’s governing body will tomorrow consider proposals to ensure the ongoing success of Auckland’s RWC 2011 celebration.

The pool match phase of the Tournament is now complete and attention focuses on Auckland where six of the eight remaining matches will be played.

Councillors will consider a report which proposes a new Fanzone in Wynyard Quarter to complement the existing Queens Wharf Fanzone and the spill over facility on Captain Cook Wharf.

It also proposes a contingency plan to expand the southern Fanzone in Mangere if required. Other Fanzones will go ahead as planned in Henderson and Albany.

The Mayor says Auckland Council has responded strongly to ensure the ongoing success of RWC 2011 in Auckland.

“We have worked hard over the past few weeks to ensure that everything that can be done is done to ensure this is an event we can look back on with pride,” says Len Brown. “I’m determined nothing is going to change over the next three weeks as world attention is truly focussed on Auckland.”

The cost of the Wynyard Wharf Fanzone to be established in Madden Street is $805,000. The contingency for the southern Fanzone expansion is $280,000.

Together the two proposals mean an extra 17,500 fans can be catered for.

The Police and Auckland Transport support this approach, which is designed to disperse demand volumes over a wider area.

Officers are proposing that in all an extra $1.5 million be put aside to be funded through savings in the existing RWC budget, and if necessary savings from across the wider Auckland Council group.

This accompanies an extra $4 million from central government to support the creation of the Captain Cook Wharf spill over area and Quay Street closures.

Auckland Transport costs are still being prepared, but will be eligible for NZTA subsidies.