Two cargo sheds on Auckland's Queens Wharf are to be demolished as part of plans to develop a party venue for fans at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The joint owners of the wharf, the Government and the Auckland Regional Council, may approve the plan next week despite opposition from within the city.
The Government and regional council will fund and develop the wharf, rejecting Auckland City Council offers of funding and options which retain the historic sheds as venues.
The regional council went back to the drawing board after seven mayors rejected its initial plan to build a cruise ship terminal costing about $100 million.
The Government and regional council said on Wednesday they would push on with a cheaper option costing about $10 million.
Neither will reveal details, but the temporary party venue and cruise ship terminal is believed to be built out of marquee-style material stretched over a rigid framework.
The regional council believes the plan would be cheaper than suggestions from the Auckland City Council to retain the cargo sheds and spend between $20 million and $30 million.
Regional council chairman Mike Lee expects design options to be shown to the public at an open day on the wharf at the end of April.
Minister for the Rugby World Cup Murray McCully says he is not concerned about the decision to demolish the sheds just months before the formation of the new super-council which will take over the governance of the waterfront.
"There might be one or two people criticise us for that; there'll be a lot more people criticising us if we don't have things ready for the Rugby World Cup next year."
Auckland City mayor John Banks has made a last-minute appeal to the Government and the regional council not to demolish the cargo sheds.
