CBD vital part of new Auckland

David Rankin knows plans alone will not bring about a successful super city. Photo / Brett Phibbs

One of the first questions David Rankin was asked by the Herald when he came to Auckland City Council in 1989 was whether he supported the creation of a super city.

His answer was a resounding "Yes".

But nothing in his broader view of the Auckland regional governance has deflected his passion that the city should have a strong, safe and vibrant central business district.

It has been a long time coming.

For years the battle was over rates - the high rate demands business and commercial ratepayers were expected to meet to subsidise household ratepayers.

Once that problem was resolved, Auckland City Council was able to turn its energies to revitalising the CBD, which the Metro Project review team only a few years ago described as "quite drab".

Parts of the CBD are still drab but progress is noticeable, particularly in Queen St, and the benefits of the council's CBD into the Future plan, developed in 2004, are starting to shine through.

To an extent the revitalisation has been helped by demographics. In 2001 there were just 8000 residents in the CBD. Now there are 23,000. And despite the building of ever-bigger suburban shopping malls - Albany and Sylvia Park are prime examples - the Auckland CBD remains a major economic hub, providing a home of 9500 businesses and an estimated 80,000 jobs.

Rankin says an attractive CBD makes sound economic sense. "A good, interesting, healthy, vibrant city centre is to everybody's advantage. Part of what we are trying to do is make the CBD a much more attractive environment to give support to investors."

He cites the report of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, which recommended a "distinctive approach" to Auckland's central city district and waterfront.

The commission found the city centre "shabby" and lamented the lack of public access to the waterfront. It said the management of the city centre and waterfront area was of national importance, adding that the centre was the "hub of New Zealand's leading firms, the focus of Auckland's education and science sectors, and of its professional, financial, business, entertainment, and creative activities.

"Many of the region's key institutions are concentrated in this area. Increasingly, it is also being recognised as a desirable place in which to live. It is Auckland's shop window' to the world, and a focus for visitors to the region."

The commission's findings reflect the thrust of the city council's CBD into the Future plan but Rankin knows plans alone will not bring about a successful super city or region.

He has visited many city centres overseas and is most impressed with the Melbourne model where city centre streets, including precincts and lanes, have been upgraded to retain their identity and character. He likes Melbourne's commitment to hosting big events.

Rankin says a successful CBD must not only look good but be safe. "One of the reasons why we have had such a vigorous anti-graffiti campaign for the past six to eight years is because it goes right to the heart of safety."

Rankin attributes the rebirth of the Auckland CBD to the city council's partnership with the private sector.

The council is working with the Heart of the City, which it partly funds, and the K Rd Business Association to develop retailing in the CBD core and make the city centre a premier retail destination.

It also draws advice from the CBD Board, an external advisory body comprising 15 CBD stakeholders who represent groups such as the business associations, Auckland City Council, Ngati Whatua, residents, educational bodies, city professionals, the hospitality industry and arts interests.

Rankin does not know whether the board will survive the super city.

"I would hope that something like the CBD Board would continue."

The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance makes no such promise. Instead it calls for the new Auckland Council to set up a city centre and waterfront committee chaired by the mayor of Auckland, with non-voting members co-opted from business, education, cultural, and not-for-profit sectors, a city centre and waterfront community board to execute functions and responsibilities delegated by the Auckland Council and a city centre and waterfront development agency to plan and develop the area. (This would be set up by the Auckland Council and/or the Government.)

The proposed structures run counter to the simplicity the royal commission promises elsewhere in its report but much depends on the calibre of those who might serve on the new bodies.

Rankin has yet to signal his interest in positions the new super city will have on offer.

Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney sees a bright future for Auckland which, he says, has much to be proud of.

He says the association's $1.85 million "Big Little City" campaign is proving its worth by pitching Auckland's attractions to outsiders. "People are really enjoying the campaign. The overview view is: 'Thank goodness for doing something'."

He says the campaign has drawn barbs from some quarters but enjoys the criticisms as much as the compliments. "It is a campaign for Auckland. It is all about proximity and diversity and I like it."

Swney says the campaign is not branding but a promotion, which is compatible with Brand Auckland - the "big A", rolled out late last year.

He is heartened a promotional campaign, "Isn't Auckland Great?", has been launched by NewstalkZB.

It is played on eight stations and aims to promote regional pride and loyalty. Radio Network general manager Bill Francis says it is proving popular with advertisers and listeners. He says it was not inspired by Swney's campaign but works well with it.

Swney is confident the planned super city will not spell the end to promotion of the CBD, noting that Heart of the City has worked hard to have a $140 million-plus fund for CBD development ring-fenced over the next few years.

Other Heart of the City activities include a three-year strategic marketing campaign with Auckland City Council to promote the CBD, which started in January last year, a three-year programme to bring Christmas back to the CBD and sponsorship of a range of events to "enhance the vibrancy of the CBD experience" and encourage off-peak visits.

The council has committed $445 million in city-centre capital spending, including $235 million of investment already made on projects including the Vector Arena and Queen St upgrade.

Better public transport into the city centre is on the way through the Central Connector which, from late this year, will result in quicker bus travel on a busway between the city centre and Newmarket.

Faster, more efficient travel between the city centre and Auckland Airport - something essential for the 2011 Rugby World Cup - is also a priority.

This will be brought about by improvements to Manukau Rd, less congestion on side streets as airport traffic stays on the main route and improved pedestrian and traffic safety. Work has already been carried out as part of this project on Gillies Ave, Pah Rd and the motorway.

CBD internet services are in for a revamp through a public-private partnership involving Kordia and Tomizone that will deliver a Wi-Fi service in eight key zones in the city centre and fringe, giving businesspeople and tourists access to a fast, affordable internet connection.

Two other major projects are under way in the city centre, the Aotea Square redevelopment and the Auckland Art Gallery restoration, which Rankin hopes will increase visitor numbers into the city and bring international recognition.

"These two upgrades are part of the council's plan to create a lively arts, culture and entertainment hub with a distinctly Auckland feel, bringing visitors in to the area from the city, region and the rest of New Zealand," he says.