Westhaven Promenade opens to public
The $12 million project has been publicly funded through budgets allocated as part of Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan.
Maori whakatauki (proverbs) are integrated within the precast concrete terrace steps.
The 2km-long cycleway and walkway runs along the marina’s edge from the Harbour Bridge through to Wynyard Quarter.
More of Auckland’s waterfront has been opened up for people to enjoy, thanks to a new promenade and cycleway around Westhaven Marina which opened on Monday 16 February.
The project, design by a team made up of LandLAB, Architectus, ASPECT Studios, E3BW, JAWA, Rewi Thompson and Ngati whatua (Hana Maihi), runs along the marina’s edge through to Wynyard Quarter. Two boardwalk sections take users out over the water as part of the $12 million project that also includes street furniture, lighting, signage, and landscaping as well as viewing platforms and the re-use of an old marina pontoon to create a new public access pier.
Auckland’s Mayor Len Brown says Auckland’s waterfront is up there with the best of any in the world and he is pleased to see that more of it will be opened up for people to access.
“Westhaven Marina is spectacular and it’s only right we show off this part of the waterfront and get people to fall in love with living in a maritime city and soak up the stunning views and picturesque surroundings on offer.
“As well as being a valuable visitor attraction the route will also form a key part of wider walking and cycling network in the city centre as we look to promote these more sustainable transport modes in the future,” Mayor Brown says.
Waterfront Auckland Chief Executive, John Dalzell, says the walkway and cycleway offers an exceptional visitor experience by incorporating best practice infrastructure design initiatives. Several cultural design elements are integrated into the promenade design to reflect the relationship of the promenade to significant sites and harbour landmarks. Maori whakatauki (proverbs) and waka stories are integrated within the precast concrete terrace steps and land-sea fauna expressed at St Mary’s Bay.
Mr Dalzell says the promenade has huge potential for the growth of the marina and the clubs within it, by introducing a wider cross section of public to the appeals of recreational boating. The Westhaven Promenade will eventually form part of a 21km cycleway stretching from the Auckland Harbour Bridge in the west to St Heliers in the east. This waterfront-wide route was a concept ranked by the public as the highest priority for early investment during consultation of the draft Waterfront Plan in 2011.
