Wharf plan a 'chance to define Auckland'

Britomart architect Mario Madayag is interested in the Queens Wharf project. Photo / Martin Sykes

Aucklanders should soon see the first designs for a cruise ship terminal and Rugby World Cup "party central" on Queens Wharf.

Council officials are holding a workshop today that will lead to expressions of interests from architects to produce plans.

The Auckland Regional Council has had the planning and design consultancy Boffa Miskell draw concept plans and architect Gordon Moller has produced sketches for a multi-purpose cruise ship terminal and theatre building.

Architect Mario Madayag has shown an interest in the project, nine years after his winning masterplan for the Britomart transport terminal that envisaged making Queens Wharf an extension of Queen St.

"This is the moment," Mr Madayag said. "This is the project that could really define Auckland, more than the Harbour Bridge, more than anything."

Auckland City city development committee chairman Aaron Bhatnagar said the council wanted to have an open day at the wharf in the next couple of weeks where plans could go on display.

The council last week committed $84.3 million in its 10-year budget to convert two 97-year-old cargo sheds for a cruise ship terminal and World Cup "party central" by 2011.

The preliminary costs included $18 million for wharf repairs and a $13.6 million contingency.

Last night, Auckland City Mayor John Banks said he was holding all proposals with a "light hand". Nothing was in, nothing was out and it could be that the wharf was cleared and nothing built in these recessionary times.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee has strong reservations about converting the sheds, saying what is needed is a longer and higher building, ideally with lots of glass and lights.

Mr Lee has also criticised Auckland City for wanting to spend $11.5 million on "gold-plated" paving when all that was needed was to open the wharf to the public and build a modern cruise ship terminal.

Boffa Miskell and the engineering firm Becas have done work for the regional council, ranging from a "no-frills" option to an iconic and expensive option.

Mr Lee said the plans were not official and what was needed was to use the talent available in Auckland to come up with something that was simple, attractive and did not cost some of the figures being bandied about.

Auckland City's urban design champion, Ludo Campbell-Reid, believes there is a definite opportunity to restore the cargo sheds.

Mr Campbell-Reid said he was not ready yet to pursue an iconic building. Instead, he is thinking of a practical, "Kiwi-esque" bach on the waterfront with theatre and drama facilities.

The Auckland Theatre Company is calling for an "architecturally stunning" multipurpose building. Mr Moller, who designed the Sky Tower and is on the board of the theatre company, has produced sketches to illustrate the synergies between a cruise ship terminal and theatre.