Auckland city redevelopment revealed: new images show what it could look like in 20 years

Tuesday, 2 July 2019

Queen St was expected to be transformed into a transport hub and safe-haven for pedestrians.

Trams, pedestrian-only areas and more greenery have been revealed in new designs for what Auckland will look like in 20 years.

The new city centre masterplan design focuses on the way Aucklanders use the city for work, travel and play and promises a safe and vibrant space 'buzzing' with people.

A before and after view of the planned Grafton Boulevard, which would become a tree-lined eastern gateway into the city centre.

Queen St on the CBD was expected to become a 'people-friendly haven' within the next decade, with open spaces for people to explore.

The council is also working with Mana Whenua to help residents and visitors develop deeper understandings of the city's history and create a 'thriving' Māori culture and identity.

An aerial view of what the Grafton Boulevard may look like within the next 20 years.

* Road to the Cup: Auckland's multi-billion dollar downtown waterfront makeover

* Major development plans outlined for Auckland's waterfront

* Pedestrian-dominated space revealed for lower Queen St**

State Highway 16 would be extended to Tāmaki Drive on the city's waterfront along a multi-way boulevard lined with trees.

A new liveable district would unite Parnell with the city and waterfront, and it is predicted a planned Grafton Boulevard would replace Wynyard Quarter.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said the new designs would give Aucklanders a city to be proud of.

The city was growing at an 'unprecedented rate' with $73 billion worth of commercial construction and 150 major development projects on the horizon, he said.

'The new city centre masterplan will help accommodate this record growth and ensure that central Auckland develops as a vibrant and world-class destination for people.'

Goff predicted waterfront foot traffic would increase by eight times the volume over the next 10 years, while Britomart would see double the amount of visitors after the City Rail Link opens in 2024.

Planning committee chairman and councillor, Chris Darby, said the people-centred design was key to 'reaching 21st century standards or sustainability, mobility and economic opportunity'.

He said the mobility plan Access for Everyone, which aimed to make Queen St into a generous and pedestrian-friendly area, would make it so pedestrians, cyclists and buses could move safely and create a low-emissions zone within five years.

General manager of the Auckland design office Ludo Campbell-Reid said the plan marked a 'bold chapter' in the city's urban design transformation story.

'With 30 hectares of untapped city fringe space, the vision it to create a new livable district for four thousand residents and unite Parnell with our city and waterfront.'

Public consultation for the designs will open in mid-August and will close in late September.