Vulcan Lane supporters upset by council officers

The battle to preserve Vulcan Lane took another step forward last night but not before Auckland City Council planners were accused of trying another "snow job" to tear up the red-pebble pavers for bluestone.

Business and building owners emerged from a council-organised workshop with the view that Mayor Dick Hubbard was strongly in favour of "restoring" the lane but damning of council officers, who presented four options.

The officers had virtually nothing good to say about the status quo, were lukewarm on new pebble pavers to replace the existing pavers, but were glowing when it came to two options involving granite and bluestone, which they called basalt.

This contradicted Mr Hubbard, who said on Sunday that the council had got the message "loud and clear" that the public did not want bluestone.

Zambesi owner Neville Findlay, one of three fashion owners leading the fight to save Vulcan Lane, said Mr Hubbard wanted to go down the right path but the planners were trying another snow job and strongly sticking to their guns. "There is still no credence and respect given to the fact that the intelligentsia of Auckland and the public have spoken and they want Vulcan Lane retained as it is," he said.

Workshop owner Chris Cherry took a petition along with 1000 signatures: "The support is far and wide. I don't think council officers understand there is design from all periods and what we have got in Vulcan Lane is an example of good design from the 1960s and 1970s."

Mr Hubbard said there was a strong preference for keeping pebble pavers of some kind to keep an authentic look, improved drainage and lighting.

CBD project manager Jo Wiggins said after the workshop that people wanted to see a restoration of Vulcan Lane "as close as possible to the kind of look and feel to what it is now".

She said there were two views on the pavers - keeping the existing 40-year red-pebble pavers or having a similar look and feel to the existing pavers.

The resurfacing options

* Status quo: The existing pavers would need patching and repair. They would need to be replaced within an estimated two to five years.
* Option 2: New pebble concrete pavers and granite sets (cobbles) to replace the existing pavers, with a life of 30 to 40 years.
* Option 3: Upgrade with granite and basalt (bluestone) with "references back to the 1920s layout of footpaths and road", with a life of about 50 years.
* Option 4: Upgrade with new granite and basalt paving. Layout that "reflects areas of activity and movement."