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Auckland City
Centre Advisory Board
23 August 2017
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City Centre Update for the Auckland City Centre
Advisory Board - to 14 August 2017
File No.: CP2017/16990
Purpose
1. To update the Auckland City Centre Advisory Board (ACCAB) on
progress on City Centre projects and initiatives to 14 August 2017.
2. The report provides a high-level overview of progress on projects
and initiatives in the City Centre, including:
· Programming
Activities
· Operations
· Delivery
Projects
3. For
physical project delivery, 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.
Executive
summary (highlights)
Britomart
Streetscapes - Stage 2: Galway Street East
4. Completed 31 July 2017.
Ellen
Melville Centre and Freyberg Place Upgrade
5. Opening ceremony 15 September 2017.
Activation
Events
6. Eat
Albert Street was a resounding success on 10 August, lifting the spirits of
attendees and the shops and business alike.
Working with
the Homeless
7. The Arts, Community and Events (ACE) team has been working directly
with third service providers to put in place practical solutions; Graham
Bodman, General Manager, ACE, will be discussing these measures at this
month’s meeting, along with representatives from Life Wise and The City
Mission.
Midtown
implementation strategy
8. Based on extensive feedback from public consultation, Auckland
Transport (AT) has developed a cross-over option for routing eastbound isthmus
buses within the City Centre. This will be workshopped with the board on 23
August.
Wynyard
Quarter and Central Wharves Frameworks
9. This is being workshopped with the board on 17 August.
Beach Road
Artwork
10. The bronze waka are nearly ready and installation is planned for
around the third week of September 2017.
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Recommendation/s
That the Auckland City Centre
Advisory Board:
a) receive
the City Centre Update report to 14 August 2017
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Comments
Programming
Overall City Centre Planning
11. There is significant work underway to integrate critical planning
elements for the City Centre. This includes an update to the implementation
strategy for key City Centre Master Plan transformational programmes in midtown
and downtown precincts, as well as other key areas across the City Centre.
12. The work is being coordinated through the City Centre Governance
framework and will be finalised in time for the political engagement process
for the Long-term Plan, which commences end of September 2017. In the lead up
to this, the City Centre team will be looking to workshop the key elements of
this planning with Councilors and the City Centre Advisory Board. Workshops
with the ACCAB on Wynyard Quarter and the Central Wharves have been scheduled
for 17 August, and Downtown and Midtown on 23 August.
Wynyard Quarter and Central
Wharves Frameworks
13. The Wynyard Quarter and Central Wharves Framework Plans and
implementation options were workshopped with the Planning Committee on 14
August, and will be to the 5 September Planning Committee for recommendations
and decisions.
14. Once the direction and intent for these Framework Plans has been
endorsed by the Planning Committee, work can continue on developing the implementation
programme and funding proposals. This will form part of the City Centre and
Waterfront prioritisation process to enable cross-council understanding of the
interdependence of a vast range of projects to be put forward for the 2018-2028
Long-term Plan.
15. The Headland Park arrangement and timing will be informed by the
Wynyard Quarter framework plan and Long-term Plan funding (the park is
currently unfunded). A decision still needs to be made on a signature public
building in the park; this decision will be informed by the framework plan and
confirmed by Planning Committee.
16. The Wynyard Quarter and Central Wharves Framework plans will be
workshopped with the ACCAB on 17 August 2017.
Downtown Framework
17. The refresh of the Downtown Framework and associated implementation
strategy was workshopped with the Planning Committee on 9 August. The workshop
focused on the integration of high quality public realm and City Centre
Transport Network outcomes for the downtown precinct, and covered the context
and vision, the imperatives, constraints, opportunities and key issues for
resolution.
18. The Downtown Framework will be workshopped with the ACCAB on 23
August.
Midtown Implementation
Strategy
19. The implementation strategy for integrating high quality public
realm and City Centre Transport Network outcomes for Victoria and Wellesley
Streets was workshopped with the Planning Committee on 9 August. The workshop
focused on the context and vision for the midtown precinct, and presented the
proposal for Wellesley St as a Bus Corridor with good public realm and Victoria
Street a high-quality pedestrian street.
20. The Midtown proposal will be workshopped with the ACCAB on 23 August
2017.
Learning Quarter
21. A projects in Albert Park are on track for completion by year end,
22. The Learning Quarter Working Group, comprising of Auckland Council,
Auckland University of Technology (AUT), and the University of Auckland, will
next meet on 19 September.
23. Tactical Urban Initiatives are being planned for St Paul and Mount
Street.
Homelessness
24. James Liston Hostel have advised that refurbishment designs are
close to being finalised and the intention is to apply for resource consent and
building consent in the near future with construction beginning approximately
January 2018.
25. Auckland
Council’s Affordable Housing Policy Team recently
undertook policy research to determine council’s position and role in addressing
homelessness. A report was presented to the Environment and Community Committee on 8 August 2017. A presentation on the Auckland Council's role in improving, ending
and preventing homelessness is attached as Attachment A of this report.
26. The Committee agreed to Option 3, with the addition
of actions on advocacy to central government, and partnerships for the delivery
of health and social services. The committee
passed resolution number ENV/2017/118, agreeing that:
27. Auckland Council’s preferred position and
role on homelessness is an aspirational approach where homelessness is rare,
brief and non-recurring, and the council’s role (in addition to the
status quo) is to strengthen established levers, with a focus on:
· strategic leadership, including a cross-sectoral
homelessness plan inter-sectoral coordination in terms of a shared vision and
goals systematic integration of homelessness into relevant policies and
regulation development of a sustainable funding base monitoring and evaluation
· advocacy
for central government social and affordable housing strategies which directly
address homelessness
· Working with the private sector and
formalising partnerships with central government agencies and non-government
organisations (NGOs) for the delivery of integrated health and social services.
28. The Chief Executive will report back to the
committee with an implementation plan including:
· establishing mechanisms to engage with
cross-sectoral agencies
· analysis
of relevant housing demand and supply
· a
more detailed stock-take
· a
shared purpose statement and high level, cross-sectoral plan costings
· a monitoring
framework.
29. The Affordable Housing Policy Team, will be
working with council staff and external stakeholders
over the next few months to develop the implementation plan and aim to report back to the Environment and Community Committee before the end of this calendar year.
Activate Auckland
Supporting business
Karangahape
Road Precinct
30. Working with the K Road Business
Association and the Auckland Council and AT team to develop best practice in
communications. We are also creating a Development
Response Strategy and draft Action Plan for the precinct.
Events
31. Eat Albert Street was a resounding success.
The Griffiths Gardens hosted over 200 people with families and groups from all
walks of life breaking bread together. The florist on Albert St hosted
approximately 150 people at their edible flowers night and approx. 2000 people
circulated on the night, many seen clutching the programme. ” It was a great night. Thank you for organizing this lovely event.
It certainly bring life to Albert St. Great work! Thanks again, Bo”
Grasshopper Thai Restaurant.
Mentoring
32. Business support packages developed by Activate Auckland have been expanded to include: BusinessPac, a pilot created in partnership with
Mentors NZ, Auckland Chamber of Commerce, City Rail Link Ltd. The package will
be offered to Albert Street businesses impacted by the City Rail Link
construction. BusinessPac contains free access to business mentors, business
advice line, subscription and access to Chamber business tools and business
networking. BusinessPac is funded from City Centre Targeted Rate.
Tactical urban
intervention (TUI)
Lightboxes
33. The Activate Auckland team has a range of assets which they use and
are also lent out to events or activities which require extra equipment. The
most recent are 8 lightboxes; free-standing and 2m high x 1m wide. The artwork
is a stick-on peel-off decal on the inside of the perspex. The first use will
be for the Festival of Architecture 2017. Showing
exemplar high density housing developments existing in Auckland on Aotea
Square.
Placekit
34. PlaceKit is progressing through detailed design and will soon be moulded.
An initial product order of approximately 100 units will cover the first
projects:
· Federal Street Shared Space – working with Sky
City
· Federal
Street Contraflow Cycleway – working with AT
· St
Pauls Street – working with AT, DPO and AUT
· K
Road
City Rail Link
Ltd (CRLL)
35. The City Rail Link works are heading up Albert Street at the moment
and will be moving into The Aotea Quarter in the near future. We work very
closely with the CRLL Street Response team. We recommend signing up to the CRLL
newsletter to receive their regular updates on the project: https://www.cityraillink.co.nz/crl-connection-newsletters/
Aotea Quarter
36. Awaiting one final piece of feedback on the Aotea Quarter
Destination Plan and then the final document and action plan will be ready. The
Development Response strategist is completing a separate plan (that will align
with the Quarter plan work) that will look at how to ensure the area keeps lively,
supported and thriving through the City Rail works and other developments that
are planned for the area.
37. An audit of parking in the Quarter is about
to start; working initially with Rick Bidgood
Parking Operations, Auckland Transport.
38. Meeting with Maree Cotter AT wayfinding Customer Campaigns and
Design Manager to discuss a strategy for temporary wayfinding during the rail
build plus long-term solutions for the Aotea Quarter.
For the Love Of Bees project
39. University and Youth Engagement: For the Love of Bees has
built connections with university students across AUT, MIT and
the University of Auckland that are actively including For the Love
of Bees in their research projects. Over the course of the May school
holidays over 70 people attended the various workshops that took place as a
part of our School Holiday Workshop Programme.
40. Corporate Partnership: For the Love of Bees is currently in
the process of developing a pasture painting (a green space where the community
develop food for bees) at the Sanitarium HQ in Royal Oak and has already
partnered with Ceracell, a local bee-keeping equipment specialist.
41. Engaging with Rough Sleepers: Auckland’s inner city,
rough-sleeping population has recently taken the initiative to get involved
with public activities in the Griffiths Gardens. We have taken on several
leaders from the rough sleeping community to nurture community connections with
For the Love of Bees and build meaningful collaborations that facilitate
positive outcomes for rough sleepers. This means including rough sleepers in
decision making in the Griffiths Gardens to develop a stronger sense of
community in public spaces.
Cycle Network
42. Quay Street segment of the Tamaki Drive Cycleway: Construction has been delayed due to the resource consent
application being notified.
43. Nelson Street Cycleway: Works have
started on the section of the Nelson Street Cycleway from Victoria Street to
Pakenham Street East in Market Place, and Pitt Street from Beresford Square to
Hobson Street. The final section to Quay Street is currently in design
and is due for public consultation this winter.
44. Westhaven
to City (Stage 1): Construction of this
project will commence in early Spring.
45. Westhaven
to City (Stage 2): The preferred option is a
bi-directional cycleway on Market Place. Customs Street West and Lower Hobson
Street. General traffic on the Market Place section would be restricted to one
direction. It will provide a link for people on bikes of all ages and abilities
between the cycleways on Nelson Street and Quay Street. Public consultation is
scheduled for September.
46. Midtown
cycleway (Victoria Street): Detailed design
will shortly start on this project with construction expected in 2018.
47. Tamaki
Drive cycleway: Consultation on this project was completed
in June and there is significant feedback to work through. A decision on
the project is expected in early Spring.
Wynyard Quarter Redevelopment
48. No new update this month. June’s update is included below for
reference.
49. Works continue on Madden Street (between Daldy and Sanfords) and
Gaunt Street (between Daldy and Bus Depot entrance). Works are to build new
in-ground infrastructure to support the higher density residential and
commercial land use, build sustainable stormwater solutions and high amenity
streetscapes.
50. The work on Madden Street is being carried out by Panuku Development
Auckland and the upgrade to Gaunt Street is an Auckland Transport project. Both
projects will be completed early September 2017.
51. The Precinct and Willis Bond commercial and residential construction
projects continue. Precinct GridAKL at 10 Madden Street is the next to be
completed with a formal opening earmarked September 2017.
Operations
52. Auckland Council and AT business systems groups are progressing
strategy for the Smart Cities pedestrian monitoring work. AT have secured
budget and the council family will be working together on the delivery.
53. GIS team in final stages of securing the interface between Auckland
Council consents and Land Information New Zealand’s Forward Works Viewer
platform. This will provide enhanced information, on surrounding works,
to anyone working within the road reserve.
Delivery
Lower
Queen Street and Albert Street Reinstatement upgrades
54. The City Rail Link team have previously presented to the board
concepts for Albert Street streetscape upgrades and the
latest designs for Lower Queen Street– the
concepts were well received and the board endorsed, in principal, the
allocation of funding ($20m and $10m respectively) under the provision that
further detail is presented back to the board as it is developed.
Britomart Streetscapes - Stage
2: Galway Street (east)
55. Stage 2 of the streetscape upgrade programme – Galway Street
and Britomart Place was completed and opened at the end of July.
56. Planning is underway for the remainder of the programme,
coordinating staging and timing with the various public and private
developments in the vicinity. An update on the programme delivery will be
presented to ACCAB in due course.
SkyPath
57. There has not been a firm commitment from the Government to fund
SkyPath.
58. The project is progressing well as a PPP. In the last month a
key milestone occurred, with the private sector partner (the PIP Fund) putting
the tender out for a new builder. More than five major construction
companies have expressed interest in building this project and three have been
selected to bid. A builder will be selected this month.
59. Once the builder is on board, there’ll be a clear timetable
over the next two years to undertake detailed design and build SkyPath
Ellen
Melville Centre and Freyberg Place Upgrade
60. Courthouse Lane, Chancery St and O’Connell Street are now open
to pedestrians. The official opening ceremony of Freyberg Place and Ellen
Melville Centre will be 15 September.
61. Final inspection is due for on Wednesday 23f August and depending on
the outcome of this, part of Freyberg Square may be open for pedestrians to
walk between Courthouse Lane and High Street.
62. However, full vehicle and pedestrian access through Freyberg Place
is not anticipated until early September pending completion of safety and
quality audits, and receiving the required regulatory and other authorisations.
Myers Park Upgrade –
Stage 2
63. The project review for Myers Park stage 2 is still in progress. The
council team has completed the review of the benefits and risks associated with
the project and identified options to progress with revised cost estimates
being prepared.
64. The design reviews are close to completion with health and safety
risk, construction and operational risks identified and appropriate mitigation
actions in place.
65. An alternative construction method has been identified that could
potentially reduce the project cost; feasibility study is currently being
undertaken.
Karangahape
Rd Streetscape Enhancement and Cycleway
66. The design team is on board and is currently focused on reviewing
background information and undertaking site investigations.
67. A stakeholder engagement plan is being developed in discussions with
the KBA, the ADO Activation team is involved to advise on opportunities to
capture design thinking from the local community and support during
construction.
Poynton
Terrace
68. Development
of business case underway including review of scope, budget and programme.
Federal Street upgrade –
Stage 2
69. The project team has completed the investigation phase, design
options are being assessed for different sections of the street.
70. Engagements with stakeholders are ongoing.
Hobson and Nelson Street
upgrade
71. AT undertaking further traffic modelling along the two streets.
72. 
Senior
management discussing terms with New Zealand International Convention Centre.
Beach Road Maori Artwork
73. Resource consent has been granted for five bronze sculptures of
working waka prow that will be located on the existing “waka
plinths” between Britomart Place and Tangihua Street.
74. The foundry has now cast all of the bronze,
and is in the process of welding the parts together. Welding is due to be
completed by the end of August. The patina and polish will take a couple of
weeks. Installation of the waka is due to be around the third week of
September. Plans underway for an official opening soon after.
O’Connell
Street Public Art
75. Engineering work is beginning on the art work with surveying of #5
and #10 facades being carried out in the coming weeks. A letter is being
circulated to the O’Connell St businesses and building owners to provide
a project update.
76. The artwork is planned to be installed in early 2018.
Consideration
Local
board views and implications
77. Engagement with the Waitematā Local Board has occurred on all
City Centre projects that are actively progressing. Specific engagement with
the board is included in the project plans for individual projects. The board
is generally supportive of the direction being taken.
Māori
impact statement
78. Monthly hui are being held throughout 2017 with iwi representatives, with
the purpose of seeking mana whenua input into the scoping and design process of
City Centre projects.
Implementation
79. Prior to the implementation of City Centre projects and initiatives,
regular meetings and workshops are held with many stakeholders including the
Waitematā Local Board, Heart of the City, K Road Business Association,
Learning Quarter stakeholders, iwi and the appropriate Auckland Council
committee(s).
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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a⇩
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Auckland Council's role in improving, ending and
preventing homelessness
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19
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Signatories
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Author
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Emma Taylor - Development Programmes Senior Lead
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Authoriser
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Barry Potter - Director Infrastructure and
Environmental Services
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