The CCMP envisions that Quay Street will progressively change from a car-dominated road to an important meeting and greeting place and waterfront promenade.
Improvements will include:
better streetscapes and enhanced views of landmark buildings
more space on the south side for pedestrians and cyclists, and outdoor dining and recreation
over time, recreation and entertainment on the wharves beyond the heritage-listed red fence.
The Quay Street Early Initiatives Programme
The Quay Street Early Initiatives programme (QSEI), led by the Auckland Council City Transformation Projects team, seeks to socialise and test possible changes to Quay Street and demonstrate progress in the delivery on the City Centre Masterplan 'harbour edge stitch' transformational move through short-term interventions.
Ciclovia on Quay - 8 February 2014
On Saturday 8 February 2014 Quay Street was partially closed off to traffic for the cycle-themed street carnival, 'Ciclovia on Quay'. Ciclovia (si-kli-vi-a) is a Spanish term that means 'bike path'. Similar events have become popular worldwide with many major cities.
An array of family-friendly cycle-themed activities spanned the length of the event from Britomart Place to Silo Park in Wynyard Quarter and included cycling obstacle courses for all ages, bike decorating and bike maintenance tutorials, interactive games and an information station telling people all about the Auckland Council's City Centre Masterplan 2012 and Waterfront Plan.
Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and Waterfront Auckland created a promotional video to publicise this event.
Other Quay Street Early Initiatives include:
the temporary parklet that transformed two carpark spaces at the intersection of Quay Street and Lower Albert Street in December 2013,
removal of bollards at the intersection of Lower Hobson Street and Quay Street, and replacing them with tree planters and street furniture
the re-illumination of the historic red fence pillars along Quay Street.
About the Pocket Park
The park re-purposes a former bus-stop and part of the southern footpath outside the PricewaterhouseCoopers building at 188 Quay Street, transforming it into a new public amenity that offers a safe and sheltered environment for meeting and gathering.
The pocket park has been carefully constructed to incorporate some of the design elements that could be considered in the Quay Street boulevard upgrade.
Planter boxes reference the rain gardens proposed for Quay Street that are similar to those on Jellicoe Street in Wynyard Quarter. As well as providing a visual separation from the traffic and framing a space to sit and relax, the planters are an important reference to the coastal planting suggested for the Quay Street upgrade.They also help to enhance the city's environmental sustainability.
Red and white stripped seats are inspired by the 'maritime beacon' street edges that ran the length of the curbs along Quay Street in the early 1970's, and a large banquet table offers a place for city workers and visitors to Quay Street to meet, linger, chat and maybe enjoy lunch.
The pocket park design has been developed by Reset Urban Design Ltd and informed by a panel of design experts across the Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and Waterfront Auckland. Additional support has been welcomed from the Waitemata Local Board, Heart of the City, Auckland Taxi Federation and owners of the adjacent property Precinct Properties Ltd.
