1 March 2022 Mr Warwick Pascoe Principal Project Lead – Premium Resource Consents Auckland Council Private Bag 92300 Victoria Street West Auckland 1142 Dear Warwick, City Rail Link – Aotea Station Architecture and Public Realm Reinstatement – Decision on Auckland Council Recommendation for Outline Plan OPW60389911 Auckland Council released the Independent Commissioner’s recommendation on the Outline Plan (OPW60389911) for the City Rail Link (CRL) Aotea Station architecture and public realm reinstatement on 16 February 2022. Pursuant to section 176A (4) of the Resource Management Act 1991, the recommendation contains a number of ‘requested changes’ and ‘suggested changes’ in relation to the proposed station architecture and public realm reinstatement works for the surrounding precinct. City Rail Link Limited (CRLL) generally accepts the Commissioner’s recommendation, but has decided not to make three of the ‘suggested’ changes which the recommendation states are “to better achieve outcomes under the Design Principles”. Suggested Change ‘1.’ “1. That the panelling on the sky element façade incorporate photovoltaics to strengthen the expression of the narrative and make use of sustainable design techniques that consider the whole of life and energy efficiency implications of the building.” CRLL has decided not to make this change for the following reasons: (i)
Expert design advice indicates that the incorporation of photovoltaics would undermine expression of the narrative rather than strengthening it. The Sky Element will be made up of anodised aluminium components, in three colour variations and with different reflectivity levels that resemble natural variations in the sky. The aluminium components (‘blades’) are being procured as a standardised system that will also be used for the Sky Element at Karangahape and Mt Eden Stations. The Sky Element at Aotea Station will also incorporate a Poutama pattern to reflect the tears of Ranginui. The incorporation of photovoltaic devices would physically alter the above-mentioned visual characteristics of the aluminium blades and detract from the intended design. The design has been developed in collaboration with mana whenua and it is considered that the change being suggested by the Council would detract from the expression of the agreed cultural narrative.
(ii) CRLL questions the level of sustainability and economic benefit that would actually be achieved by the use of photovoltaics. Any savings in energy costs would be offset by higher initial construction costs, whole of life costs, as well as more complicated ongoing maintenance requirements. In addition to interrupting the expression of sky and cultural narratives for the reasons explained in (i) above, the City Rail Link Ltd - Level 2, 25 Teed Street, Newmarket, Auckland 1023 | PO Box 9681, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand