Paul Murphy: Waterfront dream a case for open city space

Landscape architects can help redevelop Queens Wharf into a 'people's park'. Photo / Chris Gorman

There was much fanfare when it was announced that Queens Wharf was to be returned to the people.

Finally, the red fence would be thrown open and the Big Little City could contemplate the prospect of a "world class" waterfront, long desired but yet to be delivered.

A year later, all we have decided on is a temporary structure for the Rugby World Cup next year and a list of proposals as long as Queen St.

The Auckland Regional Council initially announced the development of the wharf into the "people's park", and landscape architects salivated at the potential. But where are we now?

In the Vision 2040 publication regarding the waterfront development, it is declared that the waterfront should be a "place for all people, an area rich in character and activities that link people to the city and sea".

This document was the result of public consultation and noted that public access to the waterfront and harbour edge was an important consideration in future development.

We are seeing the beginnings of the transformation of the area from the Wynyard Quarter to the west of the CBD. This is being promoted as "Auckland's new playground" - all well and good but it's a circuitous journey from downtown to get there.

Queens Wharf offers an opportunity to create a significant space that forms the heart of an entire waterfront development project, led by a landscape programme that enhances the unique qualities of the city.

As the world moves increasingly to urban living and half the world's population are urban dwellers, there is a need to provide accessible, desirable public open space. One need only take a look around the waterfront area as it stands to understand there is little such space available.

Experts from around the world have told us, and are still telling us, how to develop the city's potential, when all we really need is someone local to deliver what the locals need.

A much-heralded design competition drew a blank and we were left with the likelihood of a sparkly ferry terminal dominating the space and the left-over bits acting as open space.

The creation of a cruise ship terminal will service an increasingly popular industry, but will it reward Joe Public with any tangible benefits?

We have been told we are the third-worst country in the OECD when it comes to obesity - surely access to uninhibited open space will better serve a greater number of us Joes.

A cruise terminal will create traffic and unwanted conflict between pedestrians and vehicles as visitors are whisked away to all points of the compass during their whirlwind stopover.

Do we really need a fancy gangplank to enhance the experience of the fleeting visit? Look around the world at other ports and many have no such grandiose facilities.

In its current layout, the area around Queens Wharf is poorly served without quality, accessible open space. As the area is populated increasingly with residents and workers, the options for a lunch-time stroll are limited.

Sure, we can meander through streets heavily trafficked with large vehicles servicing the port, but it would be infinitely more pleasant to walk into a dedicated open space and stroll to the waters edge. Albert Park is an uphill climb, Victoria Park somewhat distant.

Where do we look for inspiration? Not that far it would seem, when we consider the waterfront development in Wellington, influenced largely through landscape architects' input.

The award-winning New Plymouth waterfront refurbishment is another local example worthy of review, again delivered largely by landscape architects.

What makes these projects successful is the use of local expertise, applying local knowledge and delivering installations which are linked intrinsically to their locations.

With due respect to overseas experts, the conditions experienced in Auckland are a far cry from European and American cities.

We need to realise the dream; there are a multitude of other locations where economic development can be promoted.

We have a tendency to spread our development around rather than cluster like with like, leaving a patchwork of landscape gestures which lack cohesion, identity and desirability.

Auckland is a city in desperate need of high-quality, accessible public space, which is conducive to stopping and staying. In the case of Queens Wharf, we do not want to be left lamenting what could have been.

A recent waterfront development programme in Melbourne has received mixed reviews; landscape architects' comments on the Docklands development give us some food for thought: "These buildings are symptomatic of the Docklands' lack of local sensibility and its driving need to foreground the dollar over the dream." Let's not get it all wrong on Queens Wharf.

Let's get a bit adventurous and use a landscape-based design to develop the real potential of Queens Wharf.

We have an opportunity to realise a world-class waterfront with open space at its heart. Let's not be distracted by the bright lights, bells and whistles.

* Paul Murphy is a landscape architect. All we really need is someone local to deliver what the locals need.