A leading music promoter says a proposal to increase the capacity at the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth could put it amongst New Zealand's premier concert venues. But he wants the council to go one step further, and fill in the iconic lake in front of the Bowl stage. The council is proposing that 20, fans be allowed to cram into the amphitheater - more than is permitted now.
The Bowl of Brooklands has hosted some of the biggest names in show business including Fleetwood Mac and Elton John, and kiwi favourites such as Six60 and Crowded House. Council is reviewing its reserve management plan for Pukekura Park and the adjoining Brooklands Park. In a discussion document it says most larger acts won't play venues that hold less than 20, and identifies increasing capacity at the Bowl as a "key opportunity".
Fans invade the stage during Split Enz concert at the Bowl of Brooklands. Photo: Supplied. Part of the audience at last year's Womad Festival. The main stage is the Bowl of Brooklands Photo: Supplied. Council planning manager Juliet Johnson said there was no proposal to fill-in the lake, but promoters wanted more flexibility. Johnson said the tincreased capacity in the Bowl would be achieved - in the main - by creating terraces in higher reaches of the amphitheatre.
I think it's a wonderful venue for entertainment and at the moment the lack of terracing is quite difficult for people who are my age, so if I want to go to anything with my family getting in there and getting a seat at the bottom is quite difficult. And leave the lake how it is.
I think it's a really beautiful natural unique setting how it is and I don't think every concert venue has to take large capacity crowds. Self-styled park watchdogs, Friends of Pukekura Park, have previously expressed reservations about increasing capacity at the Bowl, but declined to comment on the discussion document until it had time to consider it.
