The companies building Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) scheme are planning to move a striking café and wine bar that was in the way of the works some 2,500km away to an island in the South Pacific.
The Beresford Square café was erected 25 years ago on the site of on old turning circle for Auckland’s tram system. It is now on the site of the CRL station under Karangahape Road, but rather than demolishing it, the Link Alliance consortium has decided to relocate it to the island of Niue, where it will continue its former occupation.
Fortunately, the structure was bolted together, making it easier to deconstruct and reassemble at the vanilla plantation that will be its new home.
Rob Roughan, the man who behind the original structure, is also behind the relocation. He said: "Niue is home to fewer than 2,000 people and tourism is an important money earner. The number of visitors is growing, and the hope is that my old café will be nostalgic reminder for some of them."
Dale Burtenshaw, Link Alliance’s deputy project manager, said: "This is a win-win outcome for everyone. A well-known destination in the K Road area is preserved and gets a new life, and we remain on track with our construction programme."
Link Alliance is made up of City Rail Link, Aecom, Downer, Soletanche Bachy, Tonkin + Taylor, Vinci and WSP Opus.
It was recently announced that Auckland’s listed Chief Post Office would have to move 3mm while the CRL underground rail line was dug underneath.
Image courtesy of CRL
