Waterfront vision fails to impress

Critics have attacked council plans to revamp the Auckland waterfront as "weak" and lacking in detail.

Interested parties have vented their frustration at the "broad-based" draft vision issued by the Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council, saying it will take more than good intentions to achieve a world-class waterfront development.

The draft vision is the latest attempt to develop a masterplan for the waterfront, from the Harbour Bridge to Mechanics Bay. A previous masterplan by public and private waterfront landowners angered the marine industry for an emphasis on intensive residential development, and was abandoned.

The Westhaven Viaduct Tenants & Ratepayers Association said the councils' draft vision was too broad-based, lacked detail and failed to communicate a substantive vision for the western reclamation, also known as the tank farm. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce labelled it "very weak".

The Institute of Architects' urban issues group and another architectural lobby group, Urban Auckland, said there was a need for everyone to work together and make substantial progress on the detail and avoid fragmented development, as had happened with the old railway land at Quay Park.

The urban issues group said design issues that needed addressing included connections between the city and water, a wide public promenade, "green finger" links between Victoria Park and the harbour, canals in the western reclamation, sites for civic use, more public parks and big issues such as a third harbour crossing.

Urban Auckland considered Queens Wharf as the most important waterfront area best-suited to iconic public buildings and public space.

ARC regional strategy and planning chairman Paul Walbran defended the draft vision as a sounding board to ensure the councils were heading in the right direction.

The move by Auckland Regional Holdings to gain 100 per cent control of Ports of Auckland, which owns many of the waterfront assets the councils want to develop, would "simplify" matters, he said.

But a number of major issues still required a lot more work. They included what to do with the tank farm, the main bulk-liquid supply for Auckland; and Transit's plans for a third harbour crossing, including a preliminary option for a tunnel emerging at the tank farm.

Auckland City Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker said the councils would sit down with interested parties and the public over the next three months to work on a final joint vision.

It would include maps and graphics showing the different precincts and their future plans, and an action plan outlining timing, governance and ownership issues.

"We have received the message loud and clear that Aucklanders want to see some changes on the CBD waterfront," Dr Hucker said.

Consultation on the draft vision, which drew 851 public responses, found overwhelming support for better public access to the waterfront, more open space and care for the environment. Support was also strong for retaining the marine and fishing industries on the waterfront.

Turning the former America's Cup bases into open space was preferred over Auckland City's plans for a marine events centre.