The historic Queens Wharf on the Auckland waterfront could be broken up to create a town basin for growing ferry services.
The $78 million project involves slicing Queens Wharf into three with the middle segment being demolished and returned to water space.
The end section of Queens Wharf would be joined to nearby Captain Cooks Wharf to create an L-shaped wharf and a town basin at the foot of Queen St.
The new basin - with shops, restaurants and water taxi berths - would be a few hundred metres east of the rejuvenated Viaduct Basin and link up with the proposed $280 million Britomart train and bus station.
Queens Wharf has been the principal wharf for Auckland since it was built in 1852.
Prominent Auckland historian Professor Russell Stone said the wharf was emotionally the heart of the city and it would be a sad day if that link with the past was snapped.
"If you trample on a city's roots you trample on its dreams."
Development could 'break up' Queens Wharf
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