Light rail system comes with skyscraper deal

  • Breaking
  • 25/02/2015

Auckland's done a deal with a property developer that'll see work on expanding the light rail system get underway.

In return the developer gets land and the go-ahead to build a million-dollar skyscraper on the waterfront.

Work on both projects will begin next year.

The 36-floor skyscraper will include three levels of high-end retail stores and means goodbye to an aging 40-year-old shopping centre.

The developer, Precinct Properties, has done a deal with Auckland Council, which enables the first stage of the much-hyped, much-heralded City Rail Link to get underway.

The agreement, signed last night, allows for two rail tunnels to be built under the new tower. Construction should start next year.

Mayor Len Brown calls it an historic moment.

"It's the culmination of 95 years of planning. We are finally underway, so it's really exciting."

The City Rail Link will eliminate the current dead end at Britomart. There'll be two new underground stations at Aotea Square and Karangahape Rd, and the Mt Eden Station will be redeveloped.

Commuting time will be faster – 14 minutes quicker from Mt Albert to downtown, up to 30 minutes from out west.

The Mayor says it's a no-brainer.

"We know Auckland is gridlocked. Aucklanders say, 'Len, sort the transport out,' so providing public transport and other alternatives to jumping in their car and getting into gridlock every morning and every night, peak hour – north, south, east, west – is something Aucklanders have had enough of."

But it won't be an easy job. Construction manager Scott Elwarth says it's a challenging project.

"There are a number of factors. We've got an historic building. We've got buildings all around us. We've got ground conditions that aren't favourable."

As part of the deal, Precinct Properties paid the Auckland Council $27 million for Queen Elizabeth Square, while the council will pay Precinct $19 million towards building costs and use of the tunnel space.

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source: newshub archive