Karanga Plaza Tidal Steps swimming improvements

The project

The Mayoral Proposal on Auckland Council's Draft Long-term Plan 2024-2034 includes provision to progress a waterfront swimming pool. Eke Panuku has been working with the Mayor’s office to investigate a potential lap swimming facility in the city centre harbour.

The lap swimming area will operate initially as a pilot project to allow real-time testing of the concept, location, structure and operational requirements. The results will inform the viability of providing a more permanent salt water lap pool in the waterfront over time.

Having considered the options, the best location for the pilot is at the Karanga Plaza Tidal Steps in the Viaduct Basin, which is already a popular location for swimming. This location is also on the Swim Safe Website and water quality is regularly monitored and tested.

Eke Panuku had been working through plans to improve the health and safety for swimmers at the Karanga Plaza Tidal Steps by adding a dedicated jumping platform, so expanding the area, while staying within budget, to enable lap swimming makes good sense.

The idea is to provide a low cost, lightweight structure to test the appeal of lap swimming, and Eke Panuku will re-use existing pontoons to keep costs down.

The new and expanded facilities will include:

•    a larger area for swimmers, enclosed by floating pontoons

•    approximately four 33m long swimming lanes, with lane ropes and ladders for access

•    a dedicated jumping platform with balustrades and a grab rail

•    a range of safety improvements

•    changing sheds, showers, and lockers in Karanga Plaza (toilets are already provided).

The harbour pool and facilities will be free to use, and open during daylight hours only (dawn to dusk).

Pontoons and balustrades will separate swimmers from the Viaduct Harbour navigation channel, which is an important safety feature.

The project team is working to have the new harbour pool and jumping platform open by the end of this calendar year, in time for summer.

This project will build on Eke Panuku’s ongoing efforts to open up the city centre waterfront to Aucklanders. The longer-term vision is to include a harbour pool as part of our work to revitalise Wynyard Point through the Te Ara Tukutuku project, so this pool will provide a way to test and refine the appeal of lap swimming in the harbour.

The harbour pool will also be the catalyst to improve water quality in the nearby Jellicoe Harbour, which will have a long-term benefit and build on our efforts to improve the mauri of Te Waitematā.

Programme of works and approximate timeline: 

•    Construction work to start in early August. This will involve scaffolding around the jump platform area, and some concrete works. Noise and dust mitigation measures will be used.

•    Installation of the jump platform will occur from early-September.

•    Balustrade installation around the jumping platform and Tidal Steps from mid-September.

•    Pontoon installation for swimming pool works will start from September.

•    Works due to be complete late November / early December.

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