14 May 2004

Boost for Viaduct Harbour precinct

The Viaduct Harbour precinct has received another boost this week with agreement being reached between Ports of Auckland and the council on planning provisions for the Eastern Viaduct.

The settlement refines the planning controls for the Eastern Viaduct which enable it to continue as a public space while at the same time providing for port and marine-related activities.

Auckland City purchased the Eastern Viaduct from Ports of Auckland in July last year and plan to make the harbour area the maritime heart of the city. Council will now look to gradually upgrade its use to provide more vital public open space along the water’s edge.

Two significant changes introduced with this agreement are for: increased height allowance for public artworks on the Eastern Viaduct to eight metres, to allow greater flexibility of design, having regard for the sight line of adjacent property owners, and structures and facilities which support marine activities such as loading and unloading, ticketing and maintenance of berthage facilities.

“Auckland City is taking a lead role in developing the Viaduct Harbour into a vibrant and vital central hub,” says Councillor Juliet Yates, chairperson of the Regulatory and Fixtures Subcommittee. “We are working with central government, the Auckland Regional Council and Ports of Auckland to preserve the waterfront for Auckland’s future.”

This agreement is part of the appeals to the proposed Central Area Plan. Auckland City is negotiating to settle the remaining 15-20 appeals on this proposed plan.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>