Council talks up 'transformative' plan for Auckland city

Auckland Council has released artists’ impressions of the plan it has to open up the city and transform the waterfront.

The plan will be considered by the council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

The package of projects includes a new ferry terminal, new public space along the water’s edge, a new bus terminal at Quay St East, a linear park along Victoria St from Albert Park and a new park at Wynyard Quarter.

It is similar to the council’s work two years ago on a central wharves strategy.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff describes it as a “transformative” plan that will create a more pedestrian friendly city centre, return the waterfront to the people and cater for the greater number of people visiting, living and working in Auckland’s CBD.

“It’s an ambitious plan that will be good for Auckland. However, the timing of its implementation will need to be balanced against a range of spending priorities for transport and housing infrastructure, and regenerating town centres across the city.”

An artist's impression of the proposed linear park along Victoria St looking towards Albert Park 

The city centre accounts for 20% of Auckland’s GDP. More than 40,000 people live in the CBD and the daytime population reaches several hundred thousand people with the influx of tourists, students and workers.

Mr Goff says the America’s Cup in 2021 adds impetus to the council’s decision making. “We are exploring suitable locations on Auckland’s waterfront to host the cup while looking at creating a lasting legacy for Aucklanders,” he says.

Planning committee chairman Chris Darby says the proposed changes will also amplify the city centre’s economic potential and the desire of Aucklanders to reconnect with the waterfront.

As part of the overall improvements to the city centre, Auckland Transport wants a new public transport network that will include better bus connections across Auckland’s Midtown and Downtown areas.

The new bus facility on Quay St East will remove the need for buses to operate in the Lower Queen St and central Quay St areas.

Mr Darby says this will allow for upgrades to make Quay St more pedestrian-friendly and improve access between the city’s downtown and Wynyard Quarter, giving more people an opportunity to get down to the water’s edge.

Proposed regional park at Wynyard Quarter

The changes will be undertaken in conjunction with changes to the ferry terminal to cater for the increasing use of ferries.

The council is also planning on using Captain Cook Wharf, which is used by Ports of Auckland to park imported cards, as a cruise liner terminal. It has been put in the long term plan to cope with the increasing number of bigger ships arriving in Auckland every year.

Funding for the proposed projects will be explored as the council works through its 10-year budget, which will be released for public consultation in early next year before it is finalised in June.