An Auckland mayoral candidate wants to turn abandoned air raid shelters into a tourist attraction.
Auckland mayoral candidate Viv Beck (file image). Photo: Supplied / HOTC
The words "abandoned underground tunnel" aren't often associated with "iconic landmark and tourist attraction".
However, Auckland mayoral candidate Viv Beck has promised to change that.
She wants to turn abandoned WWII air raid shelters into something unique to Auckland, starting with a 600-metre walking and cycling connection between the central city and Parnell.
"It is quite a novel way to get real transport benefits" - Viv Beck
The project would turn abandoned World War 2 air raid shelters into a 600-metre walking and cycling connection between the central city and Parnell.
Beck told Morning Report around 4000 people per day would benefit from the project, that aims to bring mobility, heritage and tourism together.
"It is quite a novel way to get real transport benefits, bring some of our heritage to life and think about a new tourism attraction at a time where we're reopening to the world so it's really trying to bring all three together," Beck said.
She said the area that the connection would run through was set to become increasingly significant as City Rail Link projects were completed and the new convention centre was opened.
One of the key benefits of the project would see the installation of escalators up to the University of Auckland, Beck said.
"We are still anticipating over time there will be growth, the city centre may have some enduring change and we're still anticipating growth and that east-west link does have some challenges in terms of entry points to the city centre."
"Bringing people in from that the east-west connection to the university has been one of the appeals of this [project]," Beck said.
Beck said the refurbishment would cost $25-35 million - some of which could be taken from the Auckland Council's climate change and cycling funding.
Private sector funding was expected to be involved in the project while Beck said there was room for "attractions" to be incorporated into the project.
Beck said these attractions could include glow worm caves and wine and cheese cellars.
"This is about creating an attraction that would benefit the region ... it's one that doesn't have to be completely started from scratch and it has real transport benefits."