I usually cycle along the waterfront as a “cool down” after cycling from the Hutt, I’ve never had any problems with access. The main problem is so many other cyclists and pedestrians means occasionally having to swerve to keep out of their way.

Everything built on the waterfront so far (excepting the commercial parts of the port) includes adjacent pedestrian and bicycle right of ways, and has open space surrounding it. Usually designed to a high standard, altho TSB at Queens Wharf leaves a bit to be desired. Why do you think a hotel development would be any different? The developers haven’t released a design, so you’re not commenting on the basis of any plans or even conceptual drawings.

People like buildings, especially in a climate like Wellington’s where large areas of open space are often muddy, cold, and windswept. Compare the number of people enjoying Lambton Quay or Courtenay Place with those typically found hiking around bits of the town belt. Or, if you want a better example, take the waterfront itself. I used to walk around bits of it in my lunch hours in the late 1980s. There wasn’t much development, and I was almost always alone. Now there is a real buzz about the place. People are attracted by museums, cafes, and shops. And people are starting to work there in offices and retail, which adds life during working hours.

There’s nothing to stop the council to ask the Hilton to improve their outdoor environment- if they are that desperate for the site I’m they will be happy to do some landscaping.

I do not treasure the car park to which you refer.

Destroying our open waterfront? The site at the moment is a tatty windswept open air car park. If you want to spend your weekend picnicing in the middle of it, then you’ve welcome to. Especially in the nine months of the year when Wellington isn’t sunny and still. But I’d prefer to populate the waterfront with a mix of buildings, open spaces, and linear connectors that allow cycling and walking. Take Meridian as an example. It looks good, allows people to meet friends for coffee all twelve months of the year, is surrounded by interesting but usable public space, and brings people across a six lane road towards the harbour throughout the working day. It’s brilliant, whereas your treasured car park is an unsightly mess.

David, can you give us a list of the people who won’t come here because there isn’t one, so that we can see whether they are worth destroying our open waterfront to get them here?

I agree with your opinion on the so called event centre, and would like to see it flattened (and perhaps become a part of an expanded Frank Kitts Park)

1) A decent mayor

That’s it.

Actually, if you look at where it’s going to be, then it’s not so bad. It’s pretty built up around there anyway. That’s the NZ Post building it’ll block off, right? That’s 10-or-so storeys, and if it blocks their view, fuck them. They should be working, not looking out of the window.

What does Variation 11 say about Public consultation DPF?