Positive Rant this time :)
I was reading the herald today and saw an article on the construction of 'The Cloud' on the Auckland Waterfront at Queens Wharf- I won't lie I got pretty excited.
Personally I can't wait for the rugby world cup- its going to be such an awesome time for New Zealand (and heres hoping the All Blacks!!). Its going to provide us with massive opportunities to expand and improve our city. The cloud development is only one of the developments being initiated for the world cup!!
In class today we were talking about pursuing economic development policies that result in broad benefits- so beyond what can initially be seen and looking into the future and seeing how the investment will benefit in the long run. According to the article in the herald this venue will be used for "concerts and festival events, as a 'party central' fan zone during RWC matches" (NZ Herald, 21/03/11)
For years I have been driving along our waterfront- noting its enormous potential to be a stunning waterfront that could be a place of socialising and events but then the image of the ports and tank farms gets in the way. I can't help but think that maybe the development of the cloud is the first step to the renewal of Auckland waterfront and the beginning of a more beautiful Auckland city. Heres hoping anyway!
http://www.aucklandtrains.co.nz/2010/10/25/party-central-will-be-the-cloud/
This link shows you a heap of photos of what is currently in the site/being demolished now (its an out of date article) and what the Cloud will be like.
I am so amped about the rugby world cup and this has just got me even more excited- It is good to see the government is investing in something that will increase the aesthetics of our waterfront and continue to be utilised POST-world cup!!
Cool link! Hmm i bet that white covering is going to look dingee as in a few years, how will they keep that puppy clean?!
ReplyDeleteThats a good point!! Heres hoping they have something sorted for that- cause other than that its going to look awesome
ReplyDeleteGood on you for being excited about it a. I too am very excited about the RWC and get fed up with people that continue to dig at it (and the AB's). As for the water front I was a really big supporter of the New Zealand Stadium and was gutted when the Labour Government and Auckland City Council couldn't come to an agreement. I am please that they are looking beyond the RWC to as I think NZ'ers are very short sighted, they only seem to focus on the here and now. Awesome blog Claire.
ReplyDeleteSamuel- its funny you say that New Zealand is about the here and now because just today in class our lecturer was saying how we plan for yesterday rather than tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteIt is so true Claire. Are real bad trait of ours. So promise me when you are a town planner, think ahead and go with the 4 lane motor-way an not the 2 lane option ;)
ReplyDeleteSpoken like a true aucklander- the problem is if you have 4 lanes then people see the supply and therefore use it more- this only encourages the greater use of private transport... NOT what we want at all. The government needs to invest more in the public system which sure at first will seem stupid because something like 8% of people use public transport, but its the simple idea of supply the service and it will be used if it is efficient and reliable as well as affordable. This is one of the major places auckland has gone wrong, investing in a system which is totally unsustainable and creates a disorganised city when they should be investing into an organised system.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you Claire. The Government should be pouring whatever available funds into public transport. My comment above is just an example of the short-sightedness that goes on in NZ. But I still believe the 4 lane option will always be better than the 2 lane. Because no-matter how good, efficient or affordable your public system is..... People will still drive =)
ReplyDelete