Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Brian Rudman: Pass-the-problem isn't an answer

25 Sep, 2014 09:30 PM4 minutes to read
Illustration / Peter Bromhead

Illustration / Peter Bromhead

Brian Rudman
By
Brian Rudman

Columnist

VIEW PROFILE
City’s planning gurus ignore the Queens Wharf art poser and take refuge in fantasy on what to do with buses

But what about the $1.5 million state house, with its crystal chandelier? Back from a two-week break, I was keen to see what the Auckland Council's new Downtown Framework had to say about the controversial artwork and its proposed siting at the tip of Queens Wharf.

The answer is nothing. The framework gurus have chickened out, deciding this was one hot potato too many to try to juggle.

It was, perhaps, what they were referring to when they wrote "the document does not seek to answer all challenges". It was a living document that "will continue to evolve".

The Downtown Framework committee was set up in an attempt to integrate the visions and wishlists dreamed up by the various factions of the "council family".

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The "state house" would seem an obvious contender for that list, foisted as it was on to the people's wharf by the fine arts lobby with no apparent consultation with anyone but the mayor's office.

But the four possible scenarios canvassed for the wharf are totally silent on this issue. Mind you, looking at the proposals, it might be wise for artist Michael Parekowhai to play it safe and add a set of wheels to his light-house, just in case.

One of the scenarios involves extending the wharf into the harbour to accommodate larger cruise ships, which, if it happened, would leave his artwork rather further back from the water than planned.

The biggest challenge facing anyone redesigning Auckland's downtown-harbour edge interface is improving the people flow down the Queen St valley to the waterfront, while accommodating the need for a downtown bus interchange within easy reach of the Britomart train station and the ferry terminals.

The authors of the document claim they've nailed it, by moving the existing bus terminus in Lower Queen St , creating a new bus "interchange" divided between Lower Albert St and the three streets to the side and back of the Britomart station - Commerce, Galway and Tyler.

There's purple prose about an "enhanced bus interchange customer zone and waiting facilities and associated development opportunities at rear of Britomart Station", but that's pure wishful thinking.

Related articles

Politics

Brian Rudman: Dotcom's been pipped ... but it's politics as usual

02 Sep 05:00 PM
New Zealand

Brian Rudman: $25m dream a bridge too far

04 Sep 09:30 PM
New Zealand

Father faces court after his pitbull mauls son

07 Sep 12:42 AM
New Zealand|Politics

Brian Rudman: Labour must retake centre-left, with a new leader

23 Sep 05:00 PM

The rear of the train station already seems busy in its role as a customer pick-up and arrival zone for train passengers, and with electrification, we're told there'll be large growth in numbers.

As for the three streets named, Tyler in particular is a narrow, noisy, fume-catching canyon. At lunchtime on Wednesday there were only two buses parked with engines running. It must be hell in the evening rush hours. What will it be like in its new expanded role, especially in 10 or 20 years?

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The plan is to create a bus depot for North Shore and Western buses at the foot of Lower Albert St, and a similar facility around the Britomart Station for buses heading south and east. They will be linked by a proposed new east-west walkway through the redeveloped Downtown Shopping Centre.

The document has an idyllic illustration of promenading pedestrians walking past cheerily flowering pohutukawas lining the transformed Lower Queen St pedestrian square. The only sight of a bus is the rear end of one disappearing into Galway St.

That it is fantasy is easy to spot. Despite the bright red blossoms, the pedestrians are draped in winter coats and scarves. And the small print admits buses will still have to enter or exit Lower Queen St from Customs St and Quay St to access the new Britomart bus station side roads.

It's true the dream-makers had a bad hand to play. The demolition of the Britomart Place Bus Station in 2001 to make way for the new underground train station was short-sighted.

The bus station was built in 1937 on the site of the original central rail station. The new Britomart transport interchange was to include an underground bus station below the train station, but the replacement bus station was abandoned for reasons of costs and after protests from the bus companies about the delays involved in getting in and out.

The solution was to give in and scatter the buses through the adjacent streets. This despite the fact that then, now and into the future, buses carry the vast bulk of public transport passengers.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Unfortunately, trying to hide this problem behind Britomart and at the foot of Lower Albert St is not going to solve it. It's just passing it on another generation.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Herald afternoon quiz: August 20

20 Aug 03:00 AM
Education

Departing head of polytech a 'scapegoat' - National

20 Aug 01:44 AM
New Zealand

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges

20 Aug 01:05 AM
New Zealand

'Should not be approached': Wellington police seek wanted man

20 Aug 12:52 AM
New Zealand

Evacuations in Wellington after slips

20 Aug 12:39 AM

Most Popular

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges
New Zealand

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges

20 Aug 01:05 AM
'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight
New Zealand

'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight

20 Aug 12:20 AM
Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent
New Zealand

Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent

19 Aug 09:35 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP