Council staff move fast as Albert Park crumbles

Holes are appearing in Albert Park where soil has subsided into a maze of air-raid tunnels built during World War II to shelter 20,000 people.

Two instances of soil subsidence in the central city park last month have led the Auckland City Council to commission an engineering report into the ventilation shafts, which were filled with soil after the war.

Council staff moved quickly to fill in the sunken areas with loose material as a temporary safety measure.

Parks manager Jacqui Dyer said there was no risk of the public falling 20m to 30m down one of the seven ventilation shafts. The 1m-square shafts were filled with soil and capped with concrete.

The main tunnel, which runs from Constitution Hill to Wellesley St, and a labyrinth of smaller tunnels were filled with unfired clay bricks.

Jacqui Dyer said once the report was completed next week the council would decide what work needed to be done and the impact on the park, users and events. A one-tonne vehicle restriction was in force.

Heritage manager George Farrant said the park was part of the Albert Barracks, home to the 58th and other regiments from the late 1840s until 1871, and would need to be protected during any remedial work.