Pebbles beat bluestone in Vulcan Lane

An artist's impression of the new-look Vulcan Lane.

The battle to save the red pebble pavers in Vulcan Lane is officially over and work will start next year lifting up, cleaning and replacing as many of the original pavers as possible.

Following a final round of consultation on a $1.7 million restoration project, the Auckland City Council has tweaked plans to keep the 40-year-old pavers and character of the fashionable pedestrian strip.

The last contentious issue of laying a border of bluestone has been ditched following strong feedback from businesses in the lane and the public in favour of keeping the existing border of river pebbles.

The existing Melia tree near the intersection with High St will be kept, more native trees introduced and new, replica pavers will be placed together, rather than randomly.

The upgrade will require 2060 pavers, of which 954 will be replicas. Fifty pavers were tested and found to be in good condition with at least another 20 years of life.

Council officers' plans last year to rip up the pavers and strips of river pebbles for bluestone paving led some of the country's biggest fashion leaders - with overwhelming public support - to object to Vulcan Lane becoming a victim to a "bland, homogeneous" bluestone look.

Officers fought tooth and nail for months for bluestone before councillors decided last October to preserve the lane and keep as many of the original pavers as possible.

Andrew Bishop, of fashion label Feline, said yesterday that the result would ensure Vulcan Lane kept its unique identity.

"The whole outcome has been good for the city as a whole. The council has sat up and taken notice of what the people have to say a bit more ... rather than telling people what they are going to hear."

The cost of the project has risen from $1.04 million to $1.7 million. Lifting up and cleaning the pavers and obtaining replica pavers are more expensive and time-consuming than laying new bluestone pavers.

Other cost increases included extra drainage, increased labour costs and rising costs over the past 12 months.

Work could begin in the upper lane in January next year and the lower lane in May next year.