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The challenge has been laid down -- Auckland City

If you've ever had a hankering to design a bridge or an enduring civic structure; or maybe you've planned a building on the back of a dinner napkin - now's the time to reclaim your passion.

A worldwide competition has begun for someone with a brilliant, original concept for a landmark, sculptural bridge. Auckland City Council is challenging New Zealanders, be they doodlers aged eight, sketchers aged 60 or world-renowned architects, to come up with concepts for this iconic bridge on Auckland's waterfront.

The Te Wero ("the challenge") Bridge will be an opening bridge that will span the gap between the man-made Te Wero Island in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, and the soon-to-be developed Wynyard Quarter, currently home to bulk liquid storage tanks and industry. It will serve as an important public transport, cycling and pedestrian connection from the CBD to effectively a new fringe suburb, to be developed over the next twenty years.

"This is a magic part of our city. It is a gateway to our city, our harbour and the islands beyond. We have a once in a lifetime chance to enhance it."

Mr Hubbard says you don't have to be an architect or an engineer to take part.

"You just have to have a passion for beauty, form and elegance. The site of this bridge is stunning. It demands a sculptural form - something that's memorable to look at, and wonderful to experience."

Prizes totalling NZ$10,000 will be awarded to stage one finalists of the open concept design competition, based on recommendations of the judging panel. These are expected to be announced around 28 September 2007.

A project budget of $35 million has been established to build Te Wero Bridge. Construction will commence once the final design is developed and once the bridge construction proposal passes through all consenting processes including public consultation.

The council has previously consulted on the building of a bridge in this location through both the 2040 Vision and concept plans for Wynyard Quarter in 2006. Feedback received was incredibly positive. The existing heritage bridge (connecting Quay Street with the east side of Te Wero Island) will remain alongside the new structure.

The concept design competition is open to members of the public, artists, sculptors, student designers and established design professionals.

Competitors may enter by registering on the website www.aucklandcity.govtnz/tewero or by phoning (09) 379 2020 for a registration form.

Once registered, competition concepts will be submitted under their personalised registration number. All entries are anonymous, so that the judging panel can assess the creativity and concept on its merit, rather than through the name behind it.

An exhibition of the concept ideas will be held by the council before the judging, and the public's comments will be passed on to the judging team.

"We truly want a creative response to this bridge," says advocate and adviser for the bridge - property developer Richard Didsbury.

"We want to find the best ideas, no matter where they come from, so that they can provide a valuable contribution to what is finally built."

The design concepts will be used to inform and influence the bridge building programme, which is a structural and architectural design competition amongst established teams of international consultants with appropriate technical capability.

An expression of interest process, to capture the interest of appropriate technical consultants, is being run worldwide in parallel with the concept design competition (www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/tewero/eoi).

ENDS

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