Auckland waterfront's 'giant white boob'

A controversial new $50 million dome-shaped silo for storing cement has been inflated on Auckland's waterfront. The state-of-the-art 28m-high silo holds 30,000 tonnes of cement and is located at a Ports of Auckland site on the corner of Plumer and Quay Sts opposite Vector Arena. The dome's outer skin is made of a membrane similar to that used to build the Cloud on Queens Wharf.

Aucklanders keeping abreast of developments on the city's skyline reckon a new $50 million waterfront silo has a rather suggestive design.

The state-of-the-art 28m dome-shaped silo holds 30,000 tonnes of cement and is on Ports of Auckland land opposite Vector Arena.

The Holcim silo has piqued the interest of Aucklanders including Nan Shi, 6, and his brother Tong, 2. Photo / Nick Reed

"Giant white boob... that's all we needed in this city!" Gilda Kirkpatrick wrote on the Herald's Facebook page.

Ace Shattock agreed: "Dome shaped. I suppose, with the nipple on the top cropped off, that word would be sufficient. Looking at it in full though."

Graeme Hansen took a photo from his central city apartment. In an email to the Herald, he wrote:

"Taihape has a giant gumboot, Ohakune a carrot. Not to be outdone Auckland now has a giant breast. Or maybe with some orange paint a giant Jafa!"

Back on Facebook, Jacob M Sua was straight to the point: "It looks like a tit okay....stop beating around the bush! WHY IS IT SHAPED THAT WAY?!!!!"

The dome's outer skin is made of a membrane similar to that used to build the Cloud on Queens Wharf.

Jacqui Davies wrote on Facebook: "They have the sky tower now they have the condom to go with it."

Tim Oliver thought the company could have a bit of fun with it, "dress it like a Minion!"

The dome was built for cement company Holcim who said it would allow effective distribution to Auckland and the upper North Island market.

Consent was granted on a non-notified basis, meaning the public did not have a say. That upset groups concerned about the port company's growing footprint on the waterfront.

Ports of Auckland say that while the new silo might currently look like a boob, the project wasn't completed yet, and will have a finished look more akin to a piece of Lego. Photo / Supplied

Holcim said the project falls within existing port operations and the company has all the approvals required. It would continue to work closely with the Ports of Auckland and Auckland Council to meet regulatory requirements.

Ports of Auckland spokesman Matt Ball said it wouldn't stay looking like a boob for much longer, rather eventually turn into a giant piece of Lego.

"It might look like a boob now but it won't stay that way forever. I'm glad people are getting a bit of fun out of it. Personally, I think it's a kind of cool structure, yes it's industrial, but it's kind of a cool structure to have on the waterfront."

Mr Ball said Holcim needed a newer site as they couldn't bring their newer ships into Onehunga because the water was too shallow.

"They chose Auckland because most of the cement is going to be for Auckland, about 70 to 75 per cent of it, and then it will be distributed to the upper North Island as well."

Glenda Harvey, Country Manager Holcim New Zealand, said the construction of the dome was still in its infancy.

"The membrane shape that appeared in the Port of Auckland is the outer shell of what will become a 30,000 tonne cement storage dome. This is just the start of the construction process that will take about four months when the top of the dome will look considerably different. From here the team will apply a polyurethane insulation layer which will take just over a week after which they will start construction of the main steel and shotcrete layer that provides the dome with its strength."

Once the core is completed, the crew will build a concrete platform on top of the dome for dust control filters and the pipes that will transport the cement from the ships to the dome.

The Auckland terminal will provide effective access to the major market of the greater Auckland and the upper North Island while our other terminal in Timaru will provide effective distribution to the whole of the South Island market and the lower North Island, she said.

Around 75 per cent of the cement Holcim New Zealand will supply through the Auckland terminal is for the Auckland market.

"The project falls within the existing port operations and the company has all the approvals required. We continue to work closely with the Ports of Auckland and the Auckland Council to ensure all regulatory requirements are met."

It's not the first time erotic-looking projects have been erected in the city.

Some residents were gobsmacked by what they described as a penis-shaped cloud sculpture put up in New Lynn last year.

"It's certainly not a cloud," said Joy Dale of Mt Roskill. "It looks like a penis."