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America's Cup: Govt, council need 'to get on with it'

Author
Jordan Bond,
Publish Date
Tue, 14 Nov 2017, 8:58AM
Team NZ in action during the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda. (Photo \ Photosport)
Team NZ in action during the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda. (Photo \ Photosport)

America's Cup: Govt, council need 'to get on with it'

Author
Jordan Bond,
Publish Date
Tue, 14 Nov 2017, 8:58AM

A plea for the Government to get on with it, and start building America's Cup infrastructure.

Alan Sefton was the executive director of Team New Zealand when it won the America's Cup in 1995, and successfully defended it in Auckland in 2000.

He said decisions just need to be made, while Auckland Council and the Government negotiate funding arrangements.

"We don't need this to be a political football. I just would love to see the powers that be make the decisions quickly so that Team New Zealand can get on with what it needs to get on with."

Sefton wants local and central government have to dream big with the America's Cup infrastructure.

He argues that before the 2000 defence, the Auckland Viaduct was a dirty, old, fishing basin but after being redone, initially for the Cup defence, it's now one of Auckland's crown jewels.

He said the same, big thinking has to go toward planning the new infrastructure for the 2021 defence.

"It's not something that they're just going to spend money on and it's going to be an expense. It's a huge investment opportunity, and if we don't see that, there's something wrong."

Auckland Council's set to choose one of five options for team bases next Thursday.

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