Edward Rooney reports from under the boardwalk of Auckland's exciting new playground.
Beneath Queens Wharf, it's dank. Best description of the aroma is musky whiffs of salt-laden stench. Our small boat is deftly piloted around concrete pillars by boatman Regan Bell.
Over our heads, massive looms of red cables and blue pipes thread through ancient concrete and timber beams. Torchlight flickers on motley structures as the boat rocks in a soft chop and we duck under low-hanging struts.
"This is where all the money has gone," says one of the project managers, Tami McKay. "All people can see is The Cloud and Shed 10 up on top, but underneath is where the real expense is."
McKay, from Papakura, has been working at the wharf since the beginning of last year. She knows most of the structure intimately but still gets excited when we sight some features during our tour. "Look," she shouts to colleague Michaela McGeorge, "that's the light pole."
McKay notices my inquiring look and explains: "We've had so many arguments about that light pole."
Almost every new feature on Queens Wharf has been intensely debated by the many parties involved in the redevelopment.
The Historic Places Trust insisted any signs of heritage be retained. Apparently a decision was made "at the highest levels of Government" for glass collars around the base of the light poles so the water underneath can be seen. "They wanted to see the water," McKay shrugs.
From underneath the light pole foundation, we brace ourselves in the bobbing boat and peer up at the sky.
McKay is RCP project manager and McGeorge, of Freemans Bay, is project manager for Kalmar Construction. They have been directing most of the refurbishment, except the repiling which has been handled by Contech.
Plumbers have installed a wastewater pipe and tanks linking facilities at Shed 10 and The Cloud with the Quay St main sewerline, as well as new drinking water and hydrant mains. Power and data cables spaghetti around in aluminium brackets beneath the full 2.7ha of the wharf.
The Cloud is being built by the Government for $9.8 million. The refit of Shed 10 has been put at almost $4 million. Ports of Auckland sold the wharf to the previous regional council and the Government last year for $40 million.
Waterfront Auckland project maanger Mark Fraser says the renovated wharf is a huge gain for the public. "Post-Rugby World Cup, we have a refurbished wharf that becomes public open space. We've made changes now that make it easier for people to get to and from the wharf as well as the ferry terminals.
"The infrastructure that is in place will allow it to continue to be used as a temporary cruise ship terminal while the debate rightfully takes place about a permanent arrangement for cruise ships."
Auckland Festival Trust chief executive David Inns has little doubt the wharf will be well used. "We're looking at both The Cloud and Shed 10 as very exciting spaces."
The wharf will be immediately busy once construction crews pack up at the end of the month. Forty acts have been scheduled to play free shows over six weeks at The Cloud - including Anika Moa, Dragon, P Money, Che Fu, Opshop, The Feelers, State of Mind andI Am Giant.
Concerts will be held on the first four Friday nights of the cup on the Party Central main stage, while DJs will be on the roof on Friday and Saturday nights during pool play. There will also be rooftop concerts from October 3.
Back topside after we clamber out of the boat, McGeorge wants it made clear the wharf belongs to the people of Auckland.
"Make sure everyone knows it's all public," she says.
"You may have to buy your own drink in Shed 10 or be invited to a function that's on in The Cloud, but everyone can come down and enjoy the wharf."
Pier review
Queens Wharf has been rebuilt and refurbished through three contracts, much of the work happening at the same time:
Contract 1 Structural repairs to the wharf by Construction Techniques (Contech) and Beca involving hydro-demolition and repair of existing concrete piles.
Contract 2 Construction of The Cloud, the temporary fabric structure, by Fletcher Construction and RCP.
Contract 3 Shed 10 repairs, wharf surface upgrades and landscaping by Kalmar Construction and RCP. Repair Shed 10 (remove asbestos roof, re-clad and repair doors where necessary, seismic strengthening, repaint). Install street furniture and landscaping. Repair wharf surface back to original while maintaining heritage elements. Install services such as power, water, sewer, communication. The permanent infrastructure will allow future use of the wharf as an event space and Shed 10 as a temporary cruise-ship terminal.