Work starts on turning shed into party central

Photo / Dean Purcell

The whistle has blown to start work on refurbishing the century-old Shed 10 on Queens Wharf for the Rugby World Cup.

After all the ups and downs, the first signs of turning Queens Wharf into "party central" will become apparent next week.

That is when work is due to start on dismantling Shed 11 at the northern end of the wharf, followed by initial work on Shed 10 before Christmas.

Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee said yesterday work was well under way after agreement with the Government on plans for the two sheds.

In July, the regional council agreed to spend $4 million upgrading Shed 10.

The Government agreed to spend $9.6 million on a temporary "cloud" structure - dubbed the "slug" by critics.

Shed 10 will get a new colour steel roof, repairs to its corrugated iron-clad exterior and roller doors, cleaning and repair of the ground floor, repairs to the first-floor wooden deck, new power, lighting and fire detection systems.

Mr Lee said the repairs would remove leak-damaged areas and ensure the attic was watertight.

"The new roof and repairs to the exterior will ensure the shed looks in good shape for the Rugby World Cup, and preserve its heritage value."

Mr Lee said Shed 11 was being carefully dismantled to preserve its heritage features and to allow it to be eventually reassembled.

In the meantime, it would be stored at the nearby Tank Farm.

When the regional council is wound up on November 1, work on Queens Wharf will be handed to the Waterfront Development Agency, a council-controlled organisation.

$4m shed spruce-up:

* New colour steel roof.
* External cladding repairs.
* Roller and sliding doors repaired.
* Power, lighting and fire alarms.
* Ground floor repairs.