Major development plans outlined for Auckland's waterfront

Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Auckland Council and Panuku Development Auckland have released a video on planned development for the city's waterfront.

Tree-lined boulevard, park, revamped wharves - a new council video is promising Aucklanders development of the waterfront they have always dreamed of.

Panuku Development Auckland and Auckland Council released a video on this week explaining development plans for the city's downtown CBD waterfront.

They say work will be undertaken 'over the next few years' to create new public spaces in Lower Queen St and Quay St, a new ferry basin layout that will make it easier for more vessels to arrive and depart, improvements to Queens Wharf so Auckland can host larger cruise ships, and upgrades to the length of waterfront Quay St making it easier for pedestrians to walk around.

Construction of a new bridge crossing Viaduct Basin to Wynyard Quarter is part of development plans for Auckland's waterfront announced on Tuesday. (file photo)

* Controversial Wynyard Wharf tank farm back on table for America's Cup base

* National Party called for phased approach to America's Cup village

* Super-yacht service facility set to hit Auckland's Wynyard Quarter

Planned improvements to Auckland's Queens Wharf will allow the city to host larger cruise ships. (file photo)

* Budget 2018: Government announce $100 million 'support package' for America's Cup**

The plan also includes construction of a new bridge crossing Viaduct Basin to Wynyard Quarter, an 'exciting' new waterfront space as part of New Zealand hosting the America's Cup sailing competition in 2021, ongoing construction of a new neighbourhood in Wynyard Quarter, and realising the future of the tank farm when it makes way for a new public space connecting back to Victoria Park and onto the city centre.

The developments, once they're delivered, will make Auckland's city centre a 'stronger economic force both now and into the future', according to the video.

Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor Daniel Newman said the planned development work will be 'incredibly expensive' but will lead to the creation of a 'magnificent' waterfront for the city.

'This is part of the blueprint to make it [the waterfront area] more accessible but we need to take a balanced approach to development.

'A lot of people will consider there is a focus on and a priority for the city centre, but there should be a balance with [investment in] other communities.'

Newman said 'thousands' of Aucklanders will never have access to the areas to be developed as those people are 'doing it tough'.

'Extraordinary sums of money are being spent [by the council] in arguably an area with the most expensive real estate in New Zealand.

'This will be magnificent for the waterfront.

'I want to ensure we balance that … with making appropriate investments in other parts of the region that are not adjacent to the waterfront.'

The cost of the planned development work has not yet been announced.

The Government said in May that it will invest $100 million in a 'support package' for New Zealand to host the America's Cup in 2021.

The Team New Zealand syndicate earned the right to host the international sailing competition when it beat Oracle Team USA last year.