I'm somewhat bemused by the general preference of the harbour development (or at least it's style of architecture). I wonder why do we want to call the Steamer Basin such a historic name if it will end up having no real identity with random non-iconic over-sized cockleshells?
The whole thing looks much like a generic copy of the artificial multimillionaires' marinas in Dubai. Simply, it has nothing in sympathy with its surroundings except perhaps for the random teeth nearby that bear no significance to anyone.
Why on earth not make something in keeping and pay tribute to some of the heritage of the industrial prowess that once went on in the area? How about a full-sized scale waterline model of one of the two harbour ferries, SS Waireka or Waikana built in 1909 (the remains of the latter are still on Quarantine Island), with a restaurant, museum and bar inside? They were built here by the same company as Earnslaw. Only a small plaque denotes that ships were once built in Dunedin.
Or what about perhaps getting back one of the two iconic locally built 1970s tugs Rangi or Karetai and turning one of those into a cafe restaurant (as has been done in Wellington).
Let's use some imagination! Such are gems of our city heritage.
We did, of course, have an opportunity with SS Te Whaka, which, at 102 years old, was hastily scrapped here. A valiant job by a trust that was not supported enough by the council of the time, otherwise we could have had our answer to the Earnslaw plying the harbour. As it was, the hasty Te Whaka scrapping was a travesty.
A talk with the NZ marine heritage trust told me they restored a similar-sized heritage ship in worse order than Te Whaka was in. They were not given any option to buy the ship. Even if not to work again, Te Whaka could have been hauled on to dry land and become a museum with bars on board. I've seen this done in several countries.
As goes the hotel, we had an opportunity to have one at Carisbrook. The corporate centre, built around 2000 complete with lift, out of the way of main city skyline, with balconies and offering a sea view was quickly torn down, a disgusting unnecessary waste.
I submitted years ago that a transport and technology museum could be sited there beside the converted corporate block, but no, it was on a one-way course, to be left looking like an eyesore by State Highway 1 for many years.
