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Auckland City
Centre Advisory Board
23 March 2016
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City Centre
Progress Update for the Auckland City Centre Advisory Board - to 16th March
2016
File No.: CP2016/04570
Purpose
1. To update the
Auckland City Centre Advisory Board (ACCAB) on progress on City Centre projects
to 16th March 2016.
Executive
Summary
2. The report
provides a high-level overview of progress on projects and initiatives in the
city centre, including:
a. Targeted Rate
Projects
b. Other City
Centre Projects
c. City Centre
Strategies / Initiatives
d. Information
Requested in Response to Board Resolutions
e. Forward
Planner
For each project, a coloured bar shows
the three stages of development:
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 Feasibility /
Investigation
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Design /
Consultation
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Construction
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An arrow then shows what stage the
project is currently at.
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Recommendation/s
That the Auckland City Centre
Advisory Board:
a) receive the
City Centre progress report, updated to 16th March 2016.
b) provide a
timeframe for when the O’Connell Street Shared Space Artwork negotiations
should cease.
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Comments
Targeted Rate Projects
O’Connell Street Shared Space
3. One
building owner on O’Connell Street has agreed in principle to host an artwork
from their building. Unless agreement can be reached with the second building
owner the artwork is not able to be delivered as it spans the width of the
street. It is recommended that a timeframe for reaching agreement with the
second building owner is agreed by the board.
Myers Park Upgrade – Stage 2
4. Construction
works for the Mayoral Drive underpass, associated side entrances and
alterations to the Queen Street park frontage were tendered in December 2015
and tenders closed mid February 2016. Tender evaluation, clarifications and
supplier negotiations are underway and are expected to be complete by end of
April.
5. Heritage New
Zealand authority was granted end of February and Resource Consent and approval
is expected end of March 2016. Building Consent, final Auckland Transport
technical approval and Engineering Plan Approval will be lodged once the
construction contract is awarded.
6. The
construction for the Mayoral Drive underpass and associated side entrances was
originally scheduled to commence mid to end of June 2016, following the exit of
the Pop-Up Globe Theatre who have applied for a one month extension for their
shows. The commencement of the construction works is now forecast for
mid-August 2016, subject to the successful suppliers programme.
7. Auckland
Transport has undertaken a seismic assessment of the Mayoral Drive bridge,
including abutments, to ensure the structure meets current earthquake standards
and results confirmed that no further detailed investigations are required.
8. Further site
investigation for the splash pad construction is underway and the project will
be delivered through a separate procurement process. The construction of the
splash pad will commence in June 2016 and is planned to be completed for the
summer season 2016 / 2017.
Beach Road Cycleway
9. Chris
Bailey has won the expression of interest for the design and construction of a
Maori waka themed artwork for the Beach Road Stage 2 walking and cycle
project. Five bronze sculptures are proposed to be located on the
existing “waka plinths” between Britomart Place and Tangihua Street by November
this year.
Wayfinding Signage
10. Prototypes
of the Explorer, the Mini Explorer and Gateway type Information Hubs have now
been manufactured including artwork.
11. A
presentation on the completed wayfinding signage will be brought to the April
meeting of the board.
Freyberg Square and
Ellen Melville Centre
12. The Waitemata Local Board approved the final design for Freyberg
Square and the Ellen Melville Centre at its March 2016 meeting.
13. Consents will now be lodged and detailed design will progress.
14. Construction
is planned to commence in August 2016 (subject to consents being granted) and
is anticipated to be completed by September 2017.
High Street Precinct
15. Staff
have commenced work on identifying activation and mitigation opportunities
during the construction phase of the Ellen Melville Centre and Freyberg Square
upgrade.
16. The
focus will be twofold. The primary focus is to encourage visitors to the High
Street precinct while construction activity is underway. The supporting
function is to ensure that businesses are supplied with timely information
about the construction programme.
Karangahape Road Streetscape Enhancement
17. The
Karangahape Road Streetscape Enhancement Design (Phase 1) contract was awarded to LandLAB in December 2015. Mana whenua engagement and
initial public consultation has begun.
18. A
presentation on the project will be brought to the March board meeting.
Federal Street
upgrade
19. Work
on a reference design for future upgrade of Federal Street and the adjoining
side-streets has commenced.
20. The
timing and scope of the Federal Street Upgrade is being considered through the
review of the City Centre Targeted Rate Work Programme and will be discussed as
part of that item at the March workshop.
Other City Centre Projects
City Rail Link
21. The utility diversions are
well underway in preparation for the pipe jacking along Albert Street. A micro
tunnel boring machine (MTBM) will start its work at Victoria Street and travel
underground to Swanson Street. When it reaches its destination it will be
removed and put back into the Victoria Street shaft to make it way south to
Wellesley Street.
22. A three day information hub
was set up in Queen Elizabeth Square (17-19 March) to give people an
opportunity to discuss details of the work with project team members.
23. The second phase of bus
shifts will be in April before digging for the cut and cover tunnels starts in
Albert Street in May.
Hobson and Nelson Street upgrade
24. A
reference design was presented to the Board in September 2015, to inform
development of options and decision-making for adjacent projects (for example
the Nelson St cycleway and potential Nelson St Slip-lane upgrade).
25. Initial
staging of the streetscape upgrades will be aligned with construction of the NZ
International Convention Centre, indicating a potential construction start in
2016/17. A presentation on the NZICC has been arranged for the board’s April
meeting.
Lower Queen St & Albert St Reinstatement upgrades
26. The
preliminary design for the Albert St public realm is currently being
reconsidered in light of the discovery of extensive underground utilities.
27. The
preliminary design for Lower Queen St public realm is due for completion in
April 2016.
28. Construction
will be delivered in conjunction with the CRL Enabling Works contract, and is
scheduled for 2017-2019.
29. These projects are being considered as part of the review of the
City Centre Targeted Rate Work Programme and will be discussed further as part
of that item at the March workshop.
Victoria Street
Linear Park
30. A
design study is currently being undertaken by the Auckland Council’s Auckland
Design Office (ADO). This study is to provide the background information and
design principles required to inform the briefing, design and construction of
the Albert and Victoria Street intersection.
Downtown Public Spaces
31. As
reported in February, the Board has endorsed the allocation of a $1.45M CCTR
funded loan for the investigation, design & consultation of new / improved
Downtown Public Spaces (phased over 2016/2017). As agreed, staff will provide
an update to the Board on the satisfaction of the conditions of the Development
Agreement between Precinct Properties and Council, prior to drawing on targeted
rate funds later in 2016.
32. The CCTR funded
loan will be used to fund design and investigation work for the Downtown Public
Spaces, incorporating other interdependent projects in the precinct including
the repair of the Quay Street seawall and the future operations of the ferry
basin.
33. The
investigation work will include an assessment of construction options to assist
in decision making around the feasibility of undertaking repairs to the seawall
and constructing new public spaces in this vicinity while Stage One CRL works
are underway.
34. The
investigation work will inform how much funding needs to be brought forward in
council’s Long Term Plan to complete the full scope of works associated with delivering
the Downtown Public Spaces, in particular the seawall.
35. An
appeal to the decision approving the Downtown Shopping Centre Plan Change has
been lodged by the Auckland Architectural Association. Appeals will be
resolved through the Environment Court over coming months.
Quay St Seawall Seismic Upgrade
36. Refer
to Downtown Public Spaces above.
Ferry Basin Redevelopment
37. As above, Council and AT are considering options to enable funding
of initial stages to align with timing for Quay St
Seawall upgrades, and delivery of Downtown Public Spaces in 2018.
Westhaven Promenade
38. Stage
2 is currently in the early design phase – construction is budgeted for in the
2016/17 financial year.
Wynyard Quarter Redevelopment
39. Panuku
and Auckland Transport are completing streetscape upgrades within Wynyard
Quarter. Panuku is delivering Madden Street and Pakenham Street. The first
phase of Madden Street opened at the beginning of March and phase 2 is due to
open in May 2016.
40. The
upgrade of Pakenham Street between Daldy St and Beaumont St is due to start on
1st April and the next stage (between Daldy St and Halsey St) is due
to start in May 2016.
41. Construction
of the 650 seat ASB Waterfront Theatre is well underway and expected to be open
for use by the end of 2016.
Transport Infrastructure
42. Further
reviews of the outputs of the Wynyard Interchange and Fanshawe Street bus
corridor study are continuing.
43. The
Learning Quarter bus improvements study has begun with engagement with key stakeholders
having commenced in March.
Cycle Network
44. Nelson
Street Cycleway– comprised of stages as follows:
· Nelson St Bridge
and Off-ramp (NZTA) – Completed
· Nelson St Off-ramp
to Quay St
a. Stage 1 –
Union St to Victoria St – Completed
b. Stage 2 –
Victoria St to Quay St – Construction of the cycleway is planned to be
completed by September 2016.
45. Quay
St Interim Cycleway
· Construction began
on 7th March and the cycleway is due to open in July 2016.
· Initial
construction work is focused on Quay Street between Lower Hobson Street and
Commerce Street. This section of the cycleway is planned to be completed by
mid-May before CRL works begin in the same area.
Sky Path
46. An Environment
Court pre-hearing meeting was held on 8th March 2016 and clear
directions were received from the Court on the next steps prior to a hearing.
The Court set key dates to work towards in terms of narrowing issues. A
comprehensive report back to the Court is required by 27th May 2016.
City Centre Strategies / Initiatives
Programme and Funding
47. A
review of the programme of City Centre Targeted Rate projects has commenced and
will be discussed as a separate item at the March workshop.
Communications
48. The
2012 City Centre Master Plan Outcomes and Targets have been finalised (subject
to future review and update), and have received support from the Board. The
refreshed CCMP Targets were endorsed by the Auckland Development Committee at
its February meeting.
Precinct Frameworks
49. Framework
documents are underway for key city centre precincts, to collate planning and
project information and inform decisions on projects and initiatives.
a. Downtown –
complete.
b. Aotea –
complete (endorsed by the Auckland Development Committee in February 2016).
c. Learning
Quarter – implementation plan is underway
d. Victoria
Quarter – to commence 2016 (tbc)
e. Quay Park
i. The
third workshop of key stakeholders (Council, AT, POAL, NZTA, Ngati Whatua and
Kiwirail) was held on 1st March. Initial findings and next steps
will be reported to the Board for feedback.
Central Wharves Strategy
50. No
further update - the Central Wharves Strategy will be informed by early
outcomes of the Port Future Study, due mid-2016.
Digital Auckland
51. Work
is continuing with good progress on all of the Digital Auckland initiatives.
Forward Planner
52. Refer
to Attachment B – ‘Forward Planner’.
53. The
Board is encouraged to identify further topics of interest for discussion at
future meetings.
Consideration
Local
Board views and implications
54. The Waitemata
Local Board has endorsed the final design for the Ellen Melville Centre and
Freyberg Square and engagement with the board on the Karangahape Road
Streetscape Enhancement project has commenced.
Māori
impact statement
55. Monthly hui
will be held throughout 2016 with Iwi representatives, to engage them in the
scoping and design process of City Centre projects.
56. A hui was held
on 11 March 2016 to consider input to the Karangahape
Road Cycleway Public Realm Enhancements project and for Beach Road Cycleway
Stage 2 artwork.
Implementation
57. Regular
meetings and workshops have been held with the Local Board, Learning Quarter,
Iwi and the Auckland Development Committee prior to implementation of city
centre proposals.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Progress from previous meetings
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17
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bView
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Forward Planner - March 2016
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25
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Signatories
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Author
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Catherine Edmeades - Development Programmes Lead
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Authoriser
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Ralph Webster - Manager Development Programmes
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