Prime Minister John Key is impressed with the progress of Wynyard Quarter’s revitalisation on Auckland’s waterfront. At a celebratory function last Friday he announced the decision by Kiwi Income Property Trust and ASB Bank to locate the new ASB headquarters there on the corner of Jellicoe and Halsey Streets, one of the first areas to be revitalised.

Chief Executive and Project Director John Dalzell explained to the Prime Minister over the model of the area how the project is on time and on budget, and physical work on the Jellicoe Street area will begin in earnest in the next few months. An Auckland City Council plan change for the area is also close to finalisation, and the rebuilding of the North Wharf sea wall is soon to be complete.

“The Jellicoe Street area will celebrate Wynyard Quarter’s working waterfront, allowing the public to get really close to fishing boats and seafood markets and restaurants at the eastern end of Jellicoe Street, and to boats and the marine industry at the western end, fronting the Westhaven water space. New public uses are planned for the silos, which will be retained as distinctive heritage features of the area, on what will be public open space,” says Mr Dalzell.

Work on the first stage of the waterfront axis is planned to be largely completed by the Rugby World Cup next year and linked to the rest of the CBD waterfront by the interim bridge across to Te Wero Island. This first stage includes Jellicoe Street itself, the public open space at the western end of Jellicoe Street and North Wharf, the first private site on the waters’ edge.

The revitalisation will result in a mixed use, harbour-side community with parks and plazas, apartments, shops and offices alongside the traditional marine and fishing industries. Special infrastructure is planned to create the capacity for superyachts to be refitted along the western edge, earning up to $200 million a year and creating an estimated 1500 new jobs.

Currently some 3500 people work within Wynyard Quarter. This is expected to increase to 14,000 on completion, with a further 7000 living there. In future 70% of transport needs are expected to be met by public transport, possibly including trams running along the waterfront and across the permanent Te Wero Bridge.

Sea+City Projects Ltd Chairman Kerry Stotter, Chief Executive and Project Director John Dalzell, Charles Pink of ASB explain to the Prime Minister the Hon John Key the progress to date and plans for the first stage revitalisation.

Sea+City Projects Ltd Chairman Kerry Stotter, Charles Pink of ASB and Chris Gudgeon of Kiwi Income Property present the Hon John Key with picture of the first stage works as envisaged in 2013.