Servicing Superyachts supported in Wynard Quarter

by Melanie McKay on 26 Sep 2008
The company managing the redevelopment of Wynyard Quarter on the Auckland waterfront says there will be ample space and facilities for servicing superyachts up to 70 metres long, and the redevelopment plans will give the industry more space and water access than at present.

Sea+City Projects Ltd is managing the redevelopment of most of the area for Auckland Regional Holdings (ARH), the major land owner and part of the ARC Group, creating sites for private enterprise to develop in accordance with a new plan for the area, and also managing the creation of new public spaces, roads, jetties and other infrastructure on behalf of the Auckland City Council and ARH.

Project Director John Dalzell says achieving an environment in which the marine industry can thrive has been an important consideration in planning the redevelopment of the area.

The company is having continuing discussions with the marine industry on enhancing the ability to service superyachts in the Wynyard Quarter, and recognises the importance of preserving a cluster of companies servicing the industry within one of their traditional locations.

Mr Dalzell says a successful redevelopment of the Wynyard Quarter, as the bulk liquid storage tanks are progressively removed and other industries relocate, involves enabling various interests to share and enjoy the area with a mix of uses appropriate to the CBD waterfront location. As well as retaining sustainable marine and fishing industries, this involves also creating the large areas of public space and commercial, retail, residential and entertainment areas, as envisaged in the joint 2004 Vision prepared by the Auckland Regional Council and the Auckland City Council after extensive consultation.

More space is available for the marine industry in the draft redevelopment plans for Wynyard Quarter than the industry currently occupies in the area and Mr Dalzell says a priority is to attract the capital necessary to develop the suitably zoned sites and adjoining water area as they become available for the marine industry.

There are just over 100 marine businesses in Westhaven currently, with room for expansion in several locations. Many suppliers of equipment and services to superyachts have chosen not to be located within Westhaven, but still supply goods and services to vessels in Westhaven from locations elsewhere in the Auckland region.

Some of the western edge of Wynyard Quarter is already occupied by the marine industry for uses as varied as brokerage, hardstand / haulout / maintenance areas, boat storage, second hand boat sales, boat manufacturers, ship chandlers, sailmakers, marine service companies and slipways.

Currently slipping facilities for superyachts are very limited. The allocation of western edge sites for marine uses allows for various new developments including new haul out and potentially slipping facilities possibly as soon as 2013.

It is proposed that a sheltered deep water 'staging harbour' can be created near the western end of Jellicoe Street with new jetties, capable of accommodating a number of superyachts as well as other vessels. These initiatives, able to be implemented as part of the proposed changes to the Coastal Plan, were discussed in some detail at the commissioner hearings, with a decision on the ARC Coastal Plan Change and the Auckland City Council Plan Modifications due in early November, 2008.

The existing slipways next to deep water become more available progressively within the next four to eight years, creating further opportunities to haul out greater numbers of superyachts.

The combined facilities on the western edge will enable more than 50 superyachts to be handled annually significantly more than current volumes.

There will also be berthing and limited refit, commissioning and servicing opportunities for superyachts on the Viaduct Harbour side of Halsey Street Wharf, owned by Auckland City Council, on the eastern side of Wynyard Quarter.

The company says that while planning for the Wynyard Quarter has been in progress a new superyacht construction cluster, although in the early stage of inception, has successfully been established next to deep water at Hobsonville and some fitting out of new vessels will take place there.

Superyachts longer than 70 metres can be serviced at the Auckland Naval dockyards, or at new facilities established at Whangarei.

For more information please visit www.seacity.co.nz and sign up for the electronic newsletter.

Background to the Wynard Quarter:

Over the next 25 years around 29 hectares of Auckland’s waterfront within Wynyard Quarter will be transformed in stages into a harbour side community with parks and plazas, apartments, shops and offices alongside the traditional marine and fishing industries. It is the largest urban renewal development ever undertaken in New Zealand.

The regeneration project is a cooperative venture co-funded by Auckland Regional Holdings (ARH), the majority landowner, and Auckland City Council, which will own the roads, promenades, wharfs, parks and plazas. Auckland City Council will also share ownership of the large headland park with Auckland Regional Council (ARC).

ARH established Sea City Projects Ltd (SCPL) to manage the revitalisation, and its commercial land north of Pakenham Street. Auckland City Council has appointed SCPL to project manage the design and construction of the public areas throughout Wynyard Quarter. ARH is the statutory investment management entity and part of the Auckland Regional Council Group.