INVESTMENT & DELIVERY
COMMITTEE PAPER
Auckland Harbour Bridge Walking and Cycling Event
In confidence
Meeting Date
15 December 2021
ELT Sponsor
Brett Gliddon, General Manager, Transport Services
Prepared By
Neil Walker, National Manager, Maintenance & Operations
Deborah Hume, National Manager, Multimodal & Innovation
Legal Reviewer
Susannah Sharpe, General Counsel Environment and Property
Version
Final
Date
10 December 2021
Pages
5 + 3 Attachments
Purpose
To seek endorsement from the Board for Waka Kotahi to commence planning for a series of walking
and cycling events on the Auckland Harbour Bridge to occur from November 2022.
Recommendations
It is recommended the Committee recommends the Board:
•
Endorses the recommended series of walking and cycling events for the Auckland Harbour
Bridge to commence from November 2022
•
Note that the events are likely to have an impact on the Auckland Transport System and will
require a significant communication programme to supress demand on the day
•
Notes the risks associated with holding events on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
•
Notes the impacts of COVID-19 Traffic Light system on how the event is managed and the
potential restrictions
Strategic relevance
The Minister has requested that Waka Kotahi explore whether a walking and cycling opportunity on
the Auckland Harbour Bridge could occur over the quiet summer months or a long weekend
provided it could be done safely.
Background
Waka Kotahi requested feedback from the Investment and Delivery Committee in November around
options for an event on the Auckland Harbour Bridge in response to a request from Minister Wood.
The Board has expressed a desire for us to work with partners to make any event equitable. We
committed to go back to the Board in December to confirm what was possible.
As a result of our investigations we are confident that walking and cycling events can be delivered
to meet these objectives, however event management activities required to provide safe and
effective access to and from the bridge, make it unrealistic to deliver events in the coming event
season.
We will continue to investigate options to reduce the cost of the event via sponsorships, in the
meantime we are working on the assumption that costs for the events will be met from the NTLF.
Key Issues
Covid-19
The Government has set clear direction to keep people safe people under the Covid-19 protection
framework, set out in Appendix Three. Under the red-light setting events are limited to 100 people,
with a requirement for everyone to have a vaccine passport. This precludes any event taking place
under the Red light setting.
Events could take place under the Orange-light setting, with no restrictions on participant numbers,
however the protection framework dictates the event would need to be ticketed to manage the
requirement for vaccine passports.
Objectives
Our aspiration for the event series is to provide multiple and specific opportunities for all
Aucklanders to enjoy safe access across the bridge, regardless of their age or ability, how they
travel, where they live or their capacity to pay.
Since our last discussion with the Investment and Delivery Committee in November, we have
investigated the feasibility of holding an event in the summer months of early 2022. We have sought
guidance from experts in event management of this scale and complexity who advise they would
require a minimum of six months planning to ensure all health and safety risks are mitigated.
We are confident we can deliver a safe and enjoyable event series that will leave Aucklanders
feeling positive about walking and cycling in their city, from November 2022.
The proposal:
• This will be a Waka Kotahi led initiative, in partnership with the Auckland Council family.
• It will be positioned as an opportunity for all Aucklanders to enjoy access to the iconic
Auckland Harbour Bridge to travel on foot or wheel between Auckland city and the North
Shore.
• We will open the two east clip-on lanes of the Harbour Bridge to safely accommodate people
walking, cycling, scootering or with pushchairs or accessibility devices.
• Access will be between Shelley Beach Road at the city end and Sulphur Beach Road at the
North Shore end.
• We will open the bridge for an appropriate period during a weekend day, longer than for
previous events such as the Auckland Marathon, to allow people to travel across at their own
pace. This will result in additional delays to people travelling in vehicles, however we will
undertake a comprehensive communications plan to suppress the demand for travel over
the bridge in vehicles.
• It will be free for people to travel across the Harbour Bridge, though more work is required to
confirm the details of safe and convenient access.
• The Covid-19 protection framework restrictions for events will determine whether an event is
possible, and the treatments required to ensure public safety.
• The costs of the events will be accommodated within the Walking and Cycling Activity Class,
unless other funding is identified.
• We will investigate sponsorship opportunities for the events, as well as harnessing or
aligning with other planned events or works.
Risks and Mitigations
The most significant risks relate to people using and working on the Auckland Harbour Bridge,
though we are confident that with enough time for planning, we can operate a safe system for all
users. There will be an impact on people driving over the bridge and across the wider Auckland
transport system, which we will seek to minimise through a comprehensive communications and
media plan.
Event User and Worker Safety
As the event would take place on a Waka Kotahi asset and would be a Waka Kotahi managed
invitation for users, there is a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work Act to manage risks
to the health and safety of workers operating and maintaining the Auckland Harbour Bridge and
connecting corridors, those managing the event, as well as event participants, so far as is
reasonably practicable. We are confident that we can provide a safe operating environment.
The key risks and mitigations are set out in Attachment 1.
Auckland Transport System Impacts
We propose to close the two eastern clip-on lanes to traffic. These lanes have the capacity for
loading and are the easiest to accommodate entry and exit access. It is likely we will close Shelley
Beach off ramp which will result in additional pressure on Fanshawe Street. More time is needed to
develop the event management plan to establish details of access and the impact on the local
transport network.
The proposal is to close lanes to traffic for a longer period of the day than previous events such as
the Auckland Marathon, to ensure that people can travel at their own pace. This will have a more
significant impact on the wider transport system. Modelling carried out by Resolve Group in early
2021 indicates there would be additional delays from approximately noon to 8pm in the northbound
direction between Mt Wellington and the bridge, and in the southbound direction between SH18 and
the bridge.
Our experience of traffic impacts during the Marathon and other planned events indicates it is
possible to suppress some of the demand for travel through pre-event communications. We
propose to develop a comprehensive communications plan to alert motorists to the planned
closures and will work with specific user groups such as freight operators and the emergency
services to support their operations. In addition, we propose to identify opportunities to host the
events on quieter days over the summer period where there is likely to be more limited impacts on
the wider system. The communications plan will also advise on the best way to travel to and from
the event to minimise reputational risk and improve people’s overall experience.
Stakeholder Impacts
We will work with the appropriate partners to develop the proposal to maximise the opportunity for
Auckland and ensure there are mitigation plans to manage health and safety concerns of all
stakeholders.
Costs
More work is needed to confirm event costs with an event management company; however, the
table in Attachment Two includes an estimate of potential costs based on similar activities held in
Auckland or on quotes from key suppliers. We will seek to make the events more cost effective by
aligning to other events or planned works which will significantly reduce the cost of traffic
management.
Confirming an intention to hold events in November will enable us to secure event management
staff and suppliers ahead of the busy 2022/23 summer event season and enhance opportunities to
manage costs.
We understand the sponsorship market is very constrained this summer, but that there is likely to be
interest for the 2022/23 summer season.
Unless funding from outside the NLTP is identified, the cost of the events will be accommodated
from the Walking and Cycling activity class, under the Streets for People Programme.
Health & safety, customer/stakeholder & environmental impact
The impact of this decision is considered by Waka Kotahi to be neutral in terms of health and safety,
the public and other stakeholders, and the environment.
Related documents
Investment & Delivery Committee paper August 2021, Auckland Harbour Bridge shared path
Options Assessment
Attachments
Attachment 1
Risk Assessment
Attachment 2
Costs
Attachment 3
Covid Framework
Attachment 1
Risk Assessment
Risk
Consequence
Risk Treatment
Proposed multimodal shared path
Vehicle encroachment into
Installation of steel barrier systems
adjacent to high-speed traffic lanes. active mode space, personal
and temporary traffic management
injury.
which effectively excludes traffic
from the event area achieved with
an emphasis on physical barrier
systems and strategic placement of
TTM apparatus.
No existing fall restraint along AHB
Active mode users fall or are
Installation of a crowd barrier, which
which is in the form of or meets
exposed to fall hazard,
is offset from the AHB balustrade
height requirements of an
resulting in personal injury.
and supported by security guard for
acceptable solution.
the duration of the event.
The gradient of the AHB which
Active mode users gain
Traffic calming measures to mitigate
persists for long distances,
speed over a distance and
the build-up of speed and possible
enabling some active modes to
lose control, resulting in
separation of travel directions.
gain relatively high speeds.
personal injury.
Communication with users on the
intent of the event to host a safe
speed environment suitable for
children.
Shared path users electing to
Active mode users entering
Installation of fencing and barriers
continue along motorway through
motorway environment, risk
coupled with security monitoring and
an active carriageway beyond area
of personal injury and
clear way finding signage.
of closure resulting in emergency
network impacts from
services response, closures and
Emergency Service response
network impacts.
effort.
COVID-19 protection framework
Event becomes a super
Ticketed solution requiring vaccine
restrictions
spreader event if robust
passports.
measures are not followed.
Monitored entry point – likely
Mingling at entry and exit
requiring security personnel
points leads to unsafe COVID
safety practicesParticipants
don’t want to show vaccine
passports meaning we can’t
maintain health and safety
requirements.
A serious or fatal incident occurs
Personal injury, Emergency
Develop a joint briefing for
on the shared path
Services are delayed from
Emergency services, including
attending due to congestion
access plan. Investigate supply of
or site access
medical officers for the event.
People who need to drive across
Negative media and
Comprehensive communications to
the Harbour Bridge experience
reputational damage
clearly articulate the opportunity of
frustration
the event and suppress the demand
for travel by vehicle.
Weather prevents event from going
The AHB site is not
Develop briefing workstream with
a head – wind, storm
comfortable for active mode
Waka Kotahi resources in met
activity in high winds
service, set up event specific
(>60kph) and poses risk of
assessment report. Delay or cancel
falling or loss of control
the event if conditions are not safe.
There are residual risks, which would still require assessment and possible mitigation.
Residual risk
Consequence
Comment
Items dropping (Direct or indirectly)
Personal injury, property
Security Guard placement and a
on or near vessels travelling
damage
pedestrian fence offset from the
beneath the bridge.
existing balustrade of the AHB.
Debris entering the shared path
Personal injury
Further consideration of this risk is
from the motorway.
required, particularly if there is
confrontation between shared path
users and traffic.
Vehicles could impact the steel
Personal injury
Option to reduce adjacent traffic
barrier system and encroach upon
speeds.
the shared path or move the barrier
into the path of cyclists.
An incident or event occurs on the
Personal injury
Emergency vehicle access to the
shared path requiring emergency
location using adjacent AHB lanes.
response, such as a crash or
Potential for a dedicated response
assault.
vehicle for the shared path and
planning to be conducted with
emergency services on how to
access the site.
The area of operations may extend
Personal injury, crowd loading
Develop further event planning
into the ‘local road’ network via
on accessways, way finding
which considers this risk and
connections, each extent may
and ensuring all
produces treatments, such as
require an additional event type
participants/users have a way
management of access and path
treatment to ensure safety.
of return.
finding.
An incident elsewhere on the
Increased congestion on the
Incident messaging to reroute
network.
Harbour Bridge
vehicles
People who need to drive across
Negative media and
Comprehensive communications to
the Harbour Bridge experience
reputational damage
clearly articulate the opportunity of
frustration
the event and suppress the demand
for travel by vehicle.
Attachment 2
Costs
Activity
Total
Barrier system (Steel barrier)
Establishment, hire,
$151,000
disestablishment
Traffic Management
Implementation, maintenance of
$26,000
closure, disestablishment
Security
Security Guard Operations, crowd $47,000
control and ushers, crowd barrier
establishment and
disestablishment
Accommodation Works
Manipulate existing barrier
$11,300
systems to allow access,
configure access paths
Operations Support
CCTV Operator and monitoring,
$9,500
Operations Management
Site Cleaning and asset
Litter removal, graffiti or signage
$6,000
restoration and checks
removal
Event Management
Event Operations Managers
$355,000
Marquee and fencing hire $65x3
Ticketing $50,000-60,000
Marketing
Media $50,000
$100,000
Marketing $50,000
Comms- internal and with
partners
Total
$705,900
Attachment 3
Covid Framework
Events – Certificates
Gatherings
– venue
Other types of venues/sites
required in Red and Orange.
requirements dictate whether
–
specific rules apply
Venue requirements also
certificates are required and
dictate other restrictions
other restrictions
Events at Red – all events
Gatherings at Red – capped at
Specified outdoor ‘non-
must use certificates for entry.
100 people if certificates used; up
ticketed’ activities eg
Restricted to 100 people based
to 25 per defined space without
market in a park/public
on 1m distancing per defined
parade–the gathering rules
space
Gatherings at Orange – no
apply (see definitions of
restrictions if certificates used; up
event and gathering types
Events at Orange – all events
to 50 per defined space without
at each level)
must use certificates for entry.
No restrictions.
Gatherings at Green – no
restrictions if certificates used;
Events at Green – no
capped at 100 people without
restrictions if certificates are
used; capped at 100 people
without
Document Outline
