Readers' Views: Tank Farm future

Is this not the perfect position to build a 60,000-75,000 seat National Stadium? The area in Peter Hollenstein's concept for park and public space is the ideal spot to place this stadium. The traditionalists may cry at the move from Eden Park, but as a traditionalist myself, I believe it is time on! The same cries came in Wellington when the move from Athletic Park was first mooted, and now most people can barely even remember where it was. Eden Park is a residential area (that I don't live in), and is becoming increasingly more difficult to get in and out of for large sporting and entertainment events. To help finance this we should probably also get rid of Ericsson also, and the proceeds from both grounds could help finance the new stadium. I'm sure both the ARU/Blues and the Warriors would be prepared to locate to this site, and I'm sure good scheduling could manage the use of the ground. This is a real opportunity for Auckland to move events to the CBD where they belong. This would bring a real buzz to the city and I'm sure people could be moved in and out a lot more effectively than either Eden Park or Ericsson. A light mono-rail could easily be run from the park to Britomart.
- Michael Holmes.

North of Jellicoe St should not be any building, but something iconic, such as a sound-shell in a spectacular shape and dimension so that it can take a decent crowd. If money-making is part of the object, the hugely profitable London Eye should be contemplated.
- A. C. Lemmens, Birkenhead.

A straight swap of the Tank Farm land for the eastern container wharf area used by Ports of Auckland would solve the land contamination problem by burying it. It would move the wall of containers which is a revolting blight on the entrance to the harbour.
- Warwick Thompson, Milford.

We would be delighted to see an interesting building housing an art gallery with an indoor/outdoor cafe and plenty of seating for office workers - a cross between The Rocks area in Sydney and Midland Park in Wellington and please don't forget trees!
- Marianne and Peter Stevens, Campbells Bay.

Where is it proposed to move the tanks to and when? Will the new site have suitable shipping access? Where will the contaminated soil go?
- John Colebrook.

Having just arrived back from Vancouver, the city illustrates what NOT to do with the Tank Farm: The former Expo site on False Creek is now exclusively apartments. Bristol, UK, is a much better comparison where the docks are in their final stage of renovation - a project that has taken 30 years to complete. Auckland needs an eye-catching keynote building, akin to Vancouver's new cruise liner terminal and the 2010 Olympic media centre under construction on the Burrard Inlet side of the CBD with a combination of office and floor-level retail buildings to give continuous activity to the area.
- Andrew Parsons, Onehunga.

The council should step back to the position of facilitator and create a public-private partnership to develop and manage the space along the lines of recent successful initiatives all over the world, such as Melbourne's Federation Square and Docklands. Only then will visionary planners, designers and architects come up with the goods.
- Christopher Johnstone, Grey Lynn.

Wouldn't everything be more efficient and sensible if Auckland was one united city, with one council running it, and everybody paid their fair share for regional amenities, and our politicians spent their time making inspired, timely decisions?
- Tony Waring, Titirangi.

Let's hope that no fast food outlets will smear this special area.
- Beryl Appleby.

Rather than another park or marina, the Tank Farm could be used for purposes that belong in cities but which no one wants near their house, like a speedway, or mental hospital, or prison. Alcatraz Auckland has a certain ring to it.
- Steve Doole.

Would it be possible to include in the open space suggested a wave organ as we saw in Zadar, Croatia?
- Kevin and Judy Browne.

We have one chance to get it right, so let's create a modern "world wonder" - a statue of Maui, fishing New Zealand from the sea. But I'm not talking about a 25m statue, I'm talking about a 20-plus storey icon that would become known around the world.
- Dave Addison.

The Auckland City Council's concept for the Tank Farm redevelopment is hideous and offensive. Do they really think Aucklanders want their waterfront blighted by apartments?
- Michael Turner.

An interesting building housing an art gallery with an indoor/outdoor cafe and plenty of seating for office workers to eat their sandwiches. A cross between The Rocks area in Sydney and Midland Park in Wellington.
- Marianne and Peter Stevens.

Canals are a good idea. The name Tank Farm needs to change - like now. Grant Ritchie. What about our own "eye in the sky?" And if we must do the apartment thing, use the the fantastic London Docklands as a model.
- Jocelyn Rennie.

Include a creative playground to attract families.
- John Courtney.On looking at the Auckland City Council concept plan shown in this morning's Herald, my immediate response is for the provision of more exposure to sun in the "open space" area. The area designated for "apartments & office buildings" will result in the buildings, depending on their height, shading much of the open space.
Surely it would make more sense to use the whole northeastern end as "open space". The "apartments & office buildings" area could then be at the southwestern portion up to a line opposite that shaded blue in the plan.
- Barry Holden

I have been happy with the general redevelopment ideas coming out of the council but object to the number of apartments. I also object to the lack of an iconic structure incorporated within the plan such as a public building for the future like an opera house or modern art museum, or something along those lines. The headland is a fantastic spot with its harbour promenade and this should not be used for apartments. Mr Lee has the right idea. There has to be a better way of managing these council-based projects. Don't want another Britomart dogged by changes in council and with the interest of the public being blurred by private interest. At the same time I realise that the council will want some monetary return on the project in the long term.
- Andrew Chambers

Whatever the tank farm area is to become, now is an ideal opportunity to design into the master plan a race track for the V8s. The area is central but isolated from transport arteries. Access to major events such as the V8s could easily be gained from the waterside using water taxis, ferries etc. Prospective residents in any dwellings proposed for this area would know from day one that noisy/congested events will be taking place there regularly.
- Alan Lawrence

Back to back offices and apartments.
- John Williams

Please don't clutter up the waterfront with more buildings.
- Paulina Koopen

Appalled at plans for even more apartment buildings.
- Barbara Bensemann

We don't need any pretend hills and waterside grass in New Zealand, we've got enough of the real stuff.
- Colin MacGillivray

If the proposed open spaces, or other facilities, are to be enjoyed, where will we park?
- Robert G L Tillett

Well thought out in terms of layout, land use and sight lines, but apart from the bridge, lack a defining breathtaking element that will serve as its natural focal point and signature iconic structure that does for Auckland what the Opera House does for Sydney.
- Phil O'Reilly

Build more bars - Why? The Government is already bitching about our 'drinking problem'. More apartments - Why? We already have all our views of the harbour towered by leaky stacked shoe-box houses.
- Shane Parker

Who in their right mind is going to walk (walk!) all the way from CBD to visit a 4ha park? And why?
 - Philippa Dyer

What you want instead A native bush and bird sanctuary.
- Paulina Koopen

Waterways and green spaces. A lung for Auckland.
- John Williams

All open parkland, with children's playgrounds - even a sound shell like Melbourne's.
- Barbara Bensemann

Open urban space that allow interaction of community with our waterfront.
- Nick Jones

Get rid of the Tank Farm, Peter Hollenstein's public park land north of Jellicoe St proposal, world standard iconic architecture, a public transport link to Britomart, a performance space like the Opera House.
- DJ Goris

A 25m bronze sculpture of a warrior with mere in hand to define Auckland like the Statue of Liberty defines New York.
- Guy Hamling

Build multi-level car parking on Jellicoe St and residents and visitors can walk or use a free golf buggy, bus or a water taxi to their destination on the peninsula, to create the third best urban waterside environment on the planet after Venice and Amsterdam.
- Colin MacGillivray

A world-class university of sailing technology at the tip of the land where apartments are proposed.
- Phil O'Reilly

Something both adults and children can enjoy such as a carnival on the wharf with rides, clowns, foods and stalls.
- Shane Parker

Look at the Sydney Opera House, the Guggenheim at Bilbao or Te Papa and the numbers that flock to them. A large public attraction would bring in people and boutiques and restaurants would flourish. Proximity to the water, sculptures, leafy trees and a tramway could complete the vision.
- Philippa Dyer

Let's hope that no fast food outlets will smear this special area.
- Beryl Appleby.

Rather than another park or marina, the Tank Farm could be used for purposes that belong in cities but which no one wants near their house, like a speedway, or mental hospital, or prison. Alcatraz Auckland has a certain ring to it.
-Steve Doole.

Would it be possible to include in the open space suggested a wave organ as we saw in Zadar, Croatia?
- Kevin and Judy Browne.

We have one chance to get it right, so let's create a modern "world wonder" - a statue of Maui, fishing New Zealand from the sea. But I'm not talking about a 25m statue, I'm talking about a 20-plus storey icon that would become known around the world.
- Dave Addison.

The Auckland City Council's concept for the Tank Farm redevelopment is hideous and offensive. Do they really think Aucklanders want their waterfront blighted by apartments?
-Michael Turner.

An interesting building housing an art gallery with an indoor/outdoor cafe and plenty of seating for office workers to eat their sandwiches. A cross between The Rocks area in Sydney and Midland Park in Wellington.
- Marianne and Peter Stevens.

Canals are a good idea. The name Tank Farm needs to change - like now.
- Grant Ritchie.

What about our own "eye in the sky?" And if we must do the apartment thing, use the the fantastic London Docklands as a model.
- Jocelyn Rennie.

Include a creative playground to attract families.
- John Courtney.

Is this not the perfect position to build a 60,000-75,000 seat National Stadium? The area in Peter Hollenstein's concept for park and public space is the ideal spot to place this stadium.

The traditionalists may cry at the move from Eden Park, but as a traditionalist myself, I believe it is time on! The same cries came in Wellington when the move from Athletic Park was first mooted, and now most people can barely even remember where it was. Eden Park is a residential area (that I don't live in), and is becoming increasingly more difficult to get in and out of for large sporting and entertainment events.

To help finance this we should probably also get rid of Ericsson also, and the proceeds from both grounds could help finance the new stadium. I'm sure both the ARU/Blues and the Warriors would be prepared to locate to this site, and I'm sure good scheduling could manage the use of the ground.

This is a real opportunity for Auckland to move events to the CBD where they belong. This would bring a real buzz to the city and I'm sure people could be moved in and out a lot more effectively than either Eden Park or Ericsson. A light mono-rail could easily be run from the park to Britomart.
- Michael Holmes.

North of Jellicoe St should not be any building, but something iconic, such as a sound-shell in a spectacular shape and dimension so that it can take a decent crowd. If money-making is part of the object, the hugely profitable London Eye should be contemplated.
- A. C. Lemmens, Birkenhead.

A straight swap of the Tank Farm land for the eastern container wharf area used by Ports of Auckland would solve the land contamination problem by burying it. It would move the wall of containers which is a revolting blight on the entrance to the harbour.
- Warwick Thompson, Milford.

We would be delighted to see an interesting building housing an art gallery with an indoor/outdoor cafe and plenty of seating for office workers - a cross between The Rocks area in Sydney and Midland Park in Wellington and please don't forget trees!
- Marianne and Peter Stevens, Campbells Bay.

Where is it proposed to move the tanks to and when? Will the new site have suitable shipping access? Where will the contaminated soil go?
- John Colebrook.

Having just arrived back from Vancouver, the city illustrates what NOT to do with the Tank Farm: The former Expo site on False Creek is now exclusively apartments. Bristol, UK, is a much better comparison where the docks are in their final stage of renovation - a project that has taken 30 years to complete.

Auckland needs an eye-catching keynote building, akin to Vancouver's new cruise liner terminal and the 2010 Olympic media centre under construction on the Burrard Inlet side of the CBD with a combination of office and floor-level retail buildings to give continuous activity to the area.
- Andrew Parsons, Onehunga.

The council should step back to the position of facilitator and create a public-private partnership to develop and manage the space along the lines of recent successful initiatives all over the world, such as Melbourne's Federation Square and Docklands.

Only then will visionary planners, designers and architects come up with the goods.
- Christopher Johnstone, Grey Lynn.

Wouldn't everything be more efficient and sensible if Auckland was one united city, with one council running it, and everybody paid their fair share for regional amenities, and our politicians spent their time making inspired, timely decisions?
- Tony Waring, Titirangi.