Viaduct vision transforms waterfront

ANNE GIBSON reports on a planning concept that would link Auckland to its precious waterfront in a most spectacular way.

A vision has emerged for the Viaduct Harbour that would result in twin giant fountains rising high out of the water to frame Auckland's skyline like the Pillars of Hercules.

More land would be reclaimed at the Westhaven Marina's breakwater to form a circle of land enclosing the city's waterfront so Aucklanders could enjoy more of it.

Part of Fanshawe St would be put underground, and Victoria Park could flow down towards the harbour and provide a link between the water's edge and the lush green grounds.

A series of canals would carry the water further into the Viaduct area, and the Tank Farm would be turned into an education campus.

This utopian scheme for the Viaduct Harbour has emerged from the Auckland Waterfront Advisory Group, which met this week to begin discussions on a master plan for the 32ha area on Auckland's waterfront, focusing particularly on the industrial and commercial land towards Westhaven Marina.

The advisory group's members include landowners Viaduct Harbour Holdings, Ports of Auckland and Infrastructure Auckland.

Visiting American architect Eric Kuhne said Aucklanders had an opportunity to make the area a world-class success. There was simply no other piece of land like the Viaduct in the world.

But property consultant John Whitehead, the advisory group's project director, warned that the ideas were just the first part of a concept plan for the region.

Mr Kuhne's enthusiasm was such, however, that by the end of the week he had sketched a detailed master plan for the Viaduct Harbour, which he was keen to show to the Herald to illustrate how the region could be transformed.

Sir Peter Hall, Bartlett Professor of Planning at University College London, who is another international expert here this week to help develop the Viaduct plan, shared Mr Kuhne's enthusiasm.

Mr Kuhne, who was involved in Sydney's Darling Harbour redevelopment, said the vision which emerged this week was a four-part plan.

"The first is to build the canals, using the water in the same way that Venice does, so that the development is stitched together. The second part is to extend Victoria Park across towards the water and connect it through to the Tank Farm, to the water's edge," he said.

"The third part would be building a [university] campus on the interior of the tank farm ... plus marine research facilities, incorporating skills training and life-long learning for the disenfranchised people who didn't make it through the system."

Mr Kuhne said the fourth part would be an "archipelago idea" involving islands, connected by bridges, in the Viaduct area. The development could be framed by two enormous fountains in the middle of the harbour, like the Pillars of Hercules, the ancient name for the promontories flanking the entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar.

Sir Peter Hall said the group's meeting had brought general agreement about the future of the area.

A core group of leading New Zealand architects will now begin to refine the broad vision into a master plan, in consultation with public bodies and interest groups. Mr Kuhne and Sir Peter will return in May, when the Viaduct vision will be refined. Mr Whitehead said consultation would take about 12 months, but changing the area would take years.

* Do you feel strongly about how Auckland's waterfront should be developed? If so, e-mail your ideas to newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz