$15m for carpark’s new roof

The roof of the Auckland Civic underground carpark in Aotea Square will be replaced at a cost of up to $15 million in a bid to stop a leaky building problem.

Water is seeping into the concrete beams holding up the roof of the carpark, forcing the Auckland City Council to prop up it up for big events such as February's AK05 Arts Festival and The Edge's New Year celebrations, which was attended by 25,000 people.

Acting finance director Robert Nelson said the roof needed to be replaced and engineers were assessing how to fix the structure, which extends under the paved and grassed area in Aotea Square.

Mr Nelson said water had been getting through and damaging the concrete beams holding up the roof of the three-storey underground carpark, which opened in 1978. Faulty drainage under the grassed area in front of the Civic Building was partly to blame.

"There is no danger to the public but what it has meant is we can't have some of the activities on those paved and grassed areas with heavy loads when you get big crowds," he said.

Mr Nelson said it would be about three months before the full extent of the problem was known and ideas explored on how to replace the roof.

The entire structure might have to come off or it could be replaced in sections, he said.

But whatever solution was chosen, it would be a "long project" and cost up to $15 million, Mr Nelson said.

Work was unlikely to begin until the middle of next year.

He said the project would be done in conjunction with the new Aotea Quarter plan to boost the area into the city's cultural, arts and entertainment hub and civic centre.

The plan includes upgrading Aotea Square and developing an arts precinct behind the Auckland Town Hall with rehearsal, administrative and education facilities for performing arts companies.

It was also a chance to look at doubling the size of the 930-space Civic carpark towards Mayoral Drive, Mr Nelson said.

The chief executive of The Edge, Greg Innes, said replacing the carpark roof would have a big impact on entertainment, conventions and the outdoor market in Aotea Square.

About one million people attend events at the Aotea Centre and town hall each year.

Mr Innes said plans by The Edge to rip the front off the Aotea Centre for cafes and bistros could be incorporated into the roof project.