Support Growing For New Zealand Yacht Center

Yachting New Zealand officials are "quietly confident" plans for a National Ocean Water Sports Centre on the Takapuna Beach camp ground will get the green light next year, according to David Leggat of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. Submissions on the Auckland Council's draft reserve management plan, including the yachting component, closed Tuesday afternoon. Although the decision is not due until February, Yachting New Zealand CEO David Abercrombie believes the A$8M ($8.3M) development has "significant benefits not just for the sailing fraternity, but other sports and the community as a whole." Architects Warren & Mahoney have drawn up the plans, covering 40% of the future public reserve. They include "250-square-meter for high-performance activities and housing the NOWSC; 500sq m of hard stand for boat rigging and derigging; and 1,500sq m of underground storage" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9/11).