Downtown Auckland's coastal shelf nears completion
This story was originally published in OurAuckland and is used with the permission of Auckland Council and Auckland Transport.
Seemingly floating above the Downtown Ferry Basin, Te Wānanga, the new downtown public space is an impressive feat of engineering.
Eric van Essen, Programme Director of the Downtown Programme says over the last year thousands of tonnes of reinforcing steel and concrete has been used to create this new waterfront public space.
The Downtown Programme is delivered in partnership between Auckland Transport and Auckland Council. A design partnership with Mana Whenua elevated design thinking to deliver a project that expresses local identity, culture history and aspirations for the future.
Te Wānanga is described as an impressive feat of engineering.
Mr van Essen says Te Wānanga was conceived and co-designed with mana whenua to be a tidal shelf interspersed with ‘pool’ apertures shedding light into the depths below.
“The calm of Te Wānanga is contrasted by the complex lattice work of reinforcing steel and piles supporting the concrete platform and the steel planters weighing up to 22 tonnes where pōhutukawa will be planted.”
Mr van Essen says construction will be completed by the end of April with Te Wānanga open to the public in May 2021.
“Planting and minor works will continue through May and June when the pōhutukawa removed from Quay Street early in the Downtown Programme, will be returned to become part of Auckland’s expanding Ngahere.”
The Downtown Programme is delivered in partnership between Auckland Transport and Auckland Council.
Te Wānanga has been designed to enhance the waterfront environment and biodiversity by supporting coastal and marine habitats to flourish.
Textured surfaces on the supporting piles will encourage the attachment of seaweeds, barnacles and periwinkles; mature trees and gardens will attract birds and insects and provide shade for people to enjoy the waterfront.
Its opening dovetails with other Downtown projects on the cusp of completion and signals the end of major construction activity on the waterfront.
Newshub recently featured the Downtown programme and the fact that the end is in sight. Incoming NZILA President Henry Crothers was featured, saying the finished project will be worth the wait. He told Newshub that what is about to be unveiled will be a significant transformation for the city. You can see the full piece here.
In the video below, the extent of the works to construct the platform that extends over the Waitematā Harbour is revealed.
