ARTA Annual Report 2009 - Auckland Transport

Case study: PROGRESS ON FERRIES
The Downtown Ferry Terminal is the hub of the Auckland region’s passenger ferry services. The terminal was
built on top of wharves that are over 100 years old. Although the population of Auckland was quadrupling
at the turn of the last century, there were still only about 180,000 residents. Wharf designers could not have
foreseen a city in which over 4.4 million journeys each year would be taken by ferry.
The undersides of these historic piers have become corroded by a combination of environmental toxins such
as chlorides and sewage leaks, structural overloads and through design and construction flaws. The piers
now require substantial repairs to their structural fabric. These repairs are necessary to maintain them in a
safe condition and extend their working life.
ARTA took over responsibility for the Downtown Ferry Terminal infrastructure in October 2007. We had a
choice of making patch repairs to the wooden and concrete sub-structures, which would last for only about
five years, or funding more substantial partial rebuilds. The latter option would last over 20 years.
When work began on Piers 1 and 2, the extent of the damage was greater than anticipated. More funds
were required. These were approved by the NZ Transport Agency and work is going ahead in three stages,
through to mid-2010. Less urgent renewal works are also being carried out to the underside of the pedestrian
promenade between Pier 2 and Princes Wharf. Tenders have been received for the design of renewals to
Piers 3 and 4.
Several improvements to passenger facilities at the Downtown Ferry Terminal were also completed last year,
including a glass wall enclosure and ports operations office on Pier 1, a canopy on Pier 2 and construction
of a link bridge between the two piers.
Improvements were also made to the Half Moon Bay and Gulf Harbour passenger facilities.
Restoring Auckland’s historic ferry wharves
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