Western Reclamation Transformation Apace

The Western Reclamation transformation work is proceeding at break-neck speed. The direction for this was largely determined before Auckland Council arose from the abolition of Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council. It has been implemented by Sea + City, which has been rebranded and bits added to form the Waterfront Development Agency (WDA). This posting is a step in time - a few weeks ago - as development has unfolded. Starting at the South Eastern end, this is where steps down to the water are being formed. This picture shows the temporary sea wall built to keep the sea at bay while steps are hewn out of the reclamation...

Near the steps is the rapidly developing Marine Event Centre. This was Auckland City Council's baby. Looking at it now you wonder about the need for the McCully Cloud on Queens Wharf. It's a pretty high spec building. Great you would think for exhibitions when there are not marine events being run out of it (like the Volvo Round the World and such like...)

The Marine Event Centre looks pretty good close up too. High spec. I haven't even been inside it yet. Shows - I suppose - what sort of gap existed between Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council...

This is one of my favourite bits of the transformation. This is North Wharf - looking South East. Detailed pavement work is being carried out here, but the old rail sidings remain...

This is a wider shot of North Wharf looking South East. You can see the Net Shed building to the right. It has been restored to a very high standard. It is still recogniseable as a corrugated iron shed. That's good. It will be interesting to see how the Net Shed gets used....

Stepping through the Net Shed, and turning round to look North West along Jellicoe Street. See how wide it is. Room for substantial street tree planting. Wide pedestrian pavements. You can see Sanfords here, Net Shed to the right. Remember that the ASB Building - and ancillary parking buildings etc, with sky walk between - is to be built beside Sanfords....

This is another favourite for me. The Six Pack Cement silos. Lots of character here...

And a lot of silo detail has been retained. This will be highly valued as time passes. Good call...

Then we get to the small wharf and harbour complex at the North Western end of Jellicoe Street. It's being reclaimed so boats can easily come and go. It's a great space because of the wharves that almost encircle the water space... so much potential. This is where I saw (in my vision for this place) a lot of character and heritage boats being moored....

...but I think there is a real risk of this space being lost to big yachts and commercial boat parking... This would be another great Auckland tragedy of the commons. We are so good at letting go of what is of great public value and potential, and letting commercial interests get title and rights. Short-term boat parking and moorage fees call the tune. When really - this place could be of enormous public interest - a sort of heritage destination anchor at the end of Jellicoe. This is why we have one Auckland Council. If there is a genuine interest in maritime heritage at Auckland Council (not just lip service) - make sure this space is not commercialised.

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".