The head of Wellington's port company says talk of building a Hilton Hotel and convention centre on port land is an exciting project for the capital.
An artist's impression of the convention centre and hotel complex. Photo: SUPPLIED / HBO+EMBT
Plans for the facility in a vacant site opposite Te Papa were abandoned because developer Mark Dunajtschik and the landowner, Arrowtown-based company director Andrew Wall, could not agree on a price for the site.
CentrePort chairperson Warren Larsen confirmed they had been talking with Mr Dunajtschik for the past couple of months.
Mr Larsen said he understood the maritime location appealed to the hotel owners and he did not see a problem with building a five star hotel near a port, citing Auckland as an example.
Mr Corry said the latest proposal showed little resemblance to an application in 2008 to build a Hilton Hotel on Wellington's waterfront. Port areas were governed by a different suite of regulations.
Nigel Corry of Wellington Regional Council said it was early days and if Mr Dunajtschik decided to proceed he would have to approach the council and the project would require consent.
He said he understood the plans were to build the facility on Glasgow wharf, but whether strengthening work would need to be carried out would depend on the size and scale of the project. The wharf was near the Bluebridge ferry terminal and sat behind a brick apartment block, opposite the Wellington railway station.