28m tank at Ports deemed 'essential'

An artist's impression of the Holcim Cement dome on Quay St.

Public out of loop on downtown dome

An inflatable dome 28m high is to go up on prized waterfront land in downtown Auckland - without public consultation.

The New Zealand arm of cement giant Holcim is building the domed storage tank on Ports of Auckland land at the corner of Quay and Plumer Sts. It will be more than twice the height of sheds it is replacing.

An earlier Auckland Council decision to grant non-notified consent to Ports of Auckland to build two 100m extensions on Bledisloe Wharf sparked a fierce public backlash.

And the latest decision, uncovered by the Herald on Sunday, has also created anger, including from high-profile Kiwis who had criticised the lack of public consultation over the wharf extensions. Broadcaster Peter Montgomery said the "whole process" should be public. "If it's not, you can't help thinking again that they've got something to hide."

Former All Black coach Sir Graham Henry signed the open letter opposing the extensions because he was worried not enough research had been done.

"It's the same with this bloody cement thing. Has there been sufficient research done on the other issues?" Sir Graham asked.

"We've got a beautiful city and we've just got to make sure that we continue to make bloody good decisions about it."

Earthworks for the $50million, nine-storey dome have started and building should finish early next year. Consent was given on a non-notified basis, meaning no public input, partly because the dome would have "less than minor adverse effects on the environment", according to council projects, practice and resolutions manager Ian Smallburn.

It is being built on a site previously occupied by a 12m shed. Only Auckland Council and its 100 per cent-owned subsidiary, Ports of Auckland, were consulted, according to an assessment of the environmental effects report done for resource consent applications

Former Auckland councillor Greg McKeown also queried the process. "You have to wonder why these sort of port developments can't be more openly and fully disclosed, especially since Quay St is recognised in the District Plan as a major gateway to the city centre."

Ports spokesman Matt Ball said Holcim needed to move to Auckland from Onehunga Port because ships were getting bigger. The tank would hold cement used in construction throughout Auckland, which was "essential for a growing city".

Holcim was consulting iwi about the exterior look. The project had also been discussed "several times", and plans shared, with the ports' community reference group.

A spokesman for mayor Len Brown said councillors were not routinely consulted on resource consent applications, but the mayor knew of the Holcim project.

Auckland CBD Residents' Advisory Group president Tim Coffey called the tank a "visual barrier" that did not belong there. Fellow advisory group member Dick Ayres said it was "another blot" on the landscape.