Sea + City and Wynyard Quarter to emphasise maritime heritage

One of the big worries I have had, along with Councillor Coney, and also Auckland's heritage maritime industry - is over the extent to which maritime heritage and history and all that stuff, would be provided for in the planning for Wynyard Quarter / Tankfarm.

There have been lots of glossy pictures and artistic representations, photos of harbour piles and rusty chains and old railway lines. But what did these images really mean on the ground, in the water and in your face - for the redevelopment.

I noticed that the carefully prepared Urban Design Framework for Wynyard Quarter, prepared by Sea + City, and agreed by Auckland Regional Council, actually made no mention of heritage at all. I've advocated for this aspect at meetings, and so has Cllr Coney and others, but somehow this matter has not been properly resolved. This means a risk that Sea + City will not sense any strong direction in that regard.

That has now been fixed. At last week's Transport & Urban Development Ctte, ARC formally considered Sea + City's interesting designs for Precinct One of Wynyard Quarter. I prepared some detailed resolutions about heritage for this meeting, and these were unanimously adopted by ARC. The ARC has resolved, the following, and I draw your attention specifically to (d):

B.1 WYNYARD QUARTER PRECINCT PLAN 1
D160-02-14 & D160-W03
Committee Secretary: 10 June 2009
An addendum to ‘B1’ previously circulated to councillors from Mr Hugh Jarvis, was handed out. (Attachment 1). Mr John Dalzell of Sea + City presented the powerpoint slides on the draft precinct plan for Wynyard Quarter.
RESOLVED
a) That the report be received.
b) That the committee acknowledges that it has been consulted on the draft precinct plan Wynyard Quarter Precinct Plan 1 Version 6 May 2009 for the Jellicoe Precinct by Sea + City Projects Limited on behalf of Auckland Regional Holdings.
c) That, subject to any other matters that the committee decides, it endorses the draft precinct plan Wynyard Quarter Precinct Plan 1 Version 6 May 2009 for
the Jellicoe Precinct :
i) excluding the depiction of a future building extending over the coastal marine area from development site 12
ii) but noting the challenges with the inclusion of a stormwater pond or wetland in the public open space north of Jellicoe Street and west of Brigham Street.
d) That the committee advise ARH and Sea + City of its expectations in regard to planning for the protection and enhancement of maritime heritage and
waterfront character of Wynyard Quarter, including:
i) that maritime heritage and waterfront character is a principle of the Urban Design Framework for Wynyard Quarter.
ii) that maritime heritage and waterfront character need to be protected and enhanced to the maximum extent possible, alongside other principles in the Urban Design Framework.
iii) that the Wynyard Quarter Precinct Plan 1 includes: a variety of provisions and opportunities for the expression of Wynyard Quarter’s history and stories; provision for the heritage fleet.

This is an excellent result.
It provides for clear direction to Sea + City and Auckland Regional Holdings.
And it provides direction that the design must "provide for the heritage fleet".