Quake snag for light-rail trial

Contractors reinforce the wharf on the western edge of the Wynyard Quarter. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The earthquake disaster in Japan could upset plans for a light-rail trial on the Auckland waterfront during the Rugby World Cup.

Waterfront Auckland has been talking to Japanese company Kawasaki about borrowing a light electric railcar to run on a 1.5km circuit of Wynyard Quarter at cup time.

Chief executive John Dalzell was not sure what effect the earthquake would have on the trial. An officer from Auckland Transport was to have gone to Japan next month to discuss the details.

Even if the light railcar does not make it to Auckland, two heritage trams from a museum in Bendigo, Victoria, are expected to be running between Jellicoe, Halsey, Gaunt and Daldy Sts by mid-August.

It is hoped the $8 million project will be the catalyst for a possible light-rail extension from Wynyard Quarter, across Viaduct Harbour to the Downtown ferry terminal, Queens Wharf, or even further along the waterfront.

Visiting Wynyard Quarter yesterday, Mr Dalzell said the area resembled organised chaos, but he was confident that six public projects costing $120 million would be ready for the cup.

Most advanced are the $32 million Viaduct Events Centre at the end of Halsey St with its distinctive wave-like roof and the North Wharf promenade.

The wharf will still be used by the fishing industry to unload catches, original features will be kept, such as old rail tracks with strip lighting inserted into them, and two new buildings have gone up on either side of a 1930s Auckland Harbour Board shed.

The three buildings are 80 per cent leased to cafes and restaurants, many of which will be seafood-based.

On the other side of North Wharf, work is progressing on turning Jellicoe St into a tree-lined boulevard and Jellicoe Plaza, where sculptor Michio Ihara's Wind Tree will be resited.

The tapestry of stainless-steel tubes was Auckland City's 1971 centennial present to itself but has lain in an Onehunga storeroom since it was moved from the wharf end of Queen St to make way for the Britomart bus and rail station.

The other projects due to be ready for the cup are the $12 million Silo Park at the western end of Jellicoe St and the $3.7 million pedestrian and cycling bridge linking the Viaduct Harbour with Wynyard Quarter.

The bridge leads to the $5.5 million Gateway Plaza featuring seating, art and steps down to the water's edge.