Key steps confirmed to open up Wynyard Quarter

Key steps confirmed to open up Wynyard Quarter

o District Plan modifications to enable construction
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o Construction to begin on The Wynyard Crossing
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Auckland City Council has approved a number of key steps to ensure the momentum of the redevelopment of the Wynyard Quarter continues.

Chairperson of the City Development Committee, Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar says the district plan modifications that have been made operative in part today have been a major focus for the council over the past four or five years.

“This is a significant milestone in realising the vision for the waterfront reached within the term of this council,” he says.

“This will now ensure the momentum to redevelop other significant parts of the area is maintained.”

The plan change modifications will ensure that the Wynyard Quarter:

o is developed with urban design philosophies as a priority
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o includes a mix of residential and commercial developments
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o has enough public, open spaces in the right places
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o continues to be a home for the marine and fishing industries
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o handles increased traffic through limits on the amount of office floor space and number of car parks that can be developed, together with travel plan requirements for new developments
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o will be safe from any contamination hazards and hazards from existing industrial developments
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o caters for residential and industrial developments side by side
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Works to redevelop the area began in May this year along Jellicoe Street.

Jellicoe Street is being transformed into a generous pedestrian-friendly boulevard, planted with trees and able to cater for market stalls and street entertainment.

The street will connect North Wharf Promenade at the water’s edge with restaurants, bars and retail spaces and a tree-lined boulevard to the Auckland Fish Market and the Quarter beyond.

To the west, Jellicoe Street will open to Silo Park where the existing storage silos and a new gantry will be look-out locations. Silo Park will cater for events, on and off the water, and includes spaces for superyacht refits and commissioning.

To the east, Jellicoe Street will open onto a public open space next to the water and forecourt to the Viaduct Events Centre. This ‘Gateway Plaza’ will greet visitors as they enter the Quarter from The Wynyard Crossing and will feature places to relax, a multifunctional pavilion and areas for small watercraft to land.

The Wynyard Crossing

The City Development Committee also approved Brian Perry Civil as the successful tenderer for the construction of the Wynyard Crossing – a pedestrian and cycle bridge that will connect the Viaduct to the Wynyard Quarter – with a tender of $2,510,808 plus a $300,000 contingency.

Mr Bhatnagar said, “The connection across the Viaduct Harbour from Wynyard Quarter to the CBD is vital to bring people into the Wynyard Quarter, and to support the Viaduct Events Centre which is due to open in August 2011.”

The Wynyard Crossing is an interim bridge and is a cost effective, quick connection across Viaduct Harbour for pedestrians and cyclist only.

This link has always been an important part of the plan to make more of the waterfront easily accessible.

As a lifting bridge, it will maintain good quality access in and out of the harbour for marine users.

The bridge is a joint venture between Auckland Regional Holdings and Auckland City Council. The construction cost is being funded by Auckland City Council the NZTA and Auckland Regional Holdings will fund the remainder.

Construction of the Wynyard Crossing will begin in September 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in April 2011.

ENDS