Smooth Waters ... #302

This photo looking across the inner harbour towards the yacht marina, was taken by Inka, a German student who stayed with us.

On the left hand side, with the spire, is the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT)... so called as this was where the overseas passenger ships used to berth during the the 60s, and 70s and until they got too large and air transport became the norm. All of the large cruise ships now berth at the wharves opposite the Westpac Stadium. Centre of photo is the marina with the large Herd Street Post Office Building (now expensive apartments). The Triathlete posting a few days ago was taken on the southern (other) side of this building. The blue and lime green building to the right is the Mr Chan's Foods building ... and to the very right hand side you can see the tan end of Te Papa.

Please take special note of the very flat "Windy Wellington" harbour !!!

HISTORY of the OPT
The original concrete wharf of Clyde Quay was finished in 1910, and extended and widened in 1964 to enable the construction of the Overseas Passenger Terminal. However, as air travel rapidly took over the international travel market, the new building’s purpose as a terminal for overseas visitors and migrants was never fully realised.
Over the years the OPT has been used variously as a function centre, office space, for restaurants and businesses serving the adjacent Chaffers Marina.

The Overseas Passenger Terminal in 2006
With eventual redevelopment always in mind, the wharf and building have only ever had routine maintenance carried out and age and the harsh marine environment have taken their toll. The Wellington Waterfront Framework acknowledged the heritage values of the OPT and required that it be retained and developed.
In 2004, a Design Brief was prepared by the Wellington City Council’s Technical Advisory Group to develop the OPT and wharf. The Brief was presented to and approved by the City Council’s Waterfront Development Sub-committee in May 2004 and Wellington Waterfront Ltd (WWL) was given the go-ahead to seek development proposals. A great deal of interest in the development opportunity was shown from developers and investors within New Zealand and overseas. Following a rigorous evaluation process, involving WWL and the Council’s Technical Advisory Group, the Willis Bond proposal designed by Athfield Architects Ltd was selected. It was considered to have best met the Design Brief and also offered a return that WWL could reinvest in waterfront public space.

A structural upgrade has become urgent
Structural engineers have assessed the current condition of the OPT and wharf and concluded they are in poor condition, requiring approximately $10 million to save them from demolition and upgrade them to a standard acceptable under the Building Act 2004. The original concrete wharf structure under the building footprint is now almost 100 years old and is in a parlous state.

Exposed concrete pile reinforcing
The concrete wharf slab, deck beams and lattice bracing have been severely affected by the seawater environment – making the concrete crumble away in places, exposing the reinforcing.

Deterioration of roofing struts
Tests also indicate that a number of the piles were not originally installed deeply enough and are under-strength.
The timber wharf extensions and piles, built in the 1960s prior to construction of the terminal building, are getting narrower in parts due to tidal erosion. A small number of piles are completely rotten and require replacement. Some connecting bolts are severely rusted and also require replacement. Seismic assessment of the existing structures has determined that under the terms of the Building Act 2004, the site can almost be described as Earthquake Prone. The seismic code requirements that come into effect in late 2006 mean significant upgrading must occur to ensure compliance. The existing building above the wharf is also in need of repair with parts of the structure – including the roof – in a poor state.