Survey planned on council plan to sell.
Denise Piper – reporter, Whangarei Leader. 12 June 2007

Development is being encouraged at the Town Basin, as part of Whangarei District Council’s 20/20: Living the Vision project.
The council has just released its information memoranda for 10 sites at the Town Basin, showing what it wants to achieve and possible suggestions for the sites.
It wants developers to register their interest in projects.
The council has already said it will consider selling some of the sites for appropriate projects.
Any money made from the sale or lease of land is to be reinvested in the 20/20 project. But council candidate Brian McLachlan says about 97 percent of Whangarei residents do not want the Town Basin sold.
To prove his point, he plans to fund a survey, asking people what they want with the Town Basin, and if ratepayers are prepared to pay for it.
He believes having a replica of historic ship the “Bounty” would be a good way of keeping the space open, while having an attraction at the Town Basin.
Mr McLachlan says a replica of the Bounty – which was the subject of a historic mutiny in 1789 – has been build in Whagarei before.
He says it could operate either as a museum or a restaurant, and could be funded by grants and sponsorship.
Written registrations of interest on the Town Basin development close on July 2nd.
The final decision of preferred ideas will not be made until November, a slight delay on previous plans of September.