Kia ora,

As we head towards winter, our teams show no signs of slowing down the construction of our tunnels and the redeveloped Mt Eden Station!  
 

This month we celebrated the re-launch of the mighty Dame Whina Cooper Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) as it makes its way towards Aotea Station for the second and final time. You can see the map above where the TBM will make its journey and follow the live tracker at www.digCRL.co.nz.  
 

If you have any questions about our work activities in the year ahead, don’t hesitate to get in touch at mteden@linkalliance.co.nz or 0800 CRL TALK (press 5 for Mt Eden Station). You can also follow Link Alliance’s progress by clicking the social media buttons below: 

Ngā mihi,  

Mt Eden Station team 

Ready 2 Bore 

The second and final Dame Whina Cooper Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) drive has now begun! Karakia and prayers were shared on Tuesday to bless the machine and the mighty team who will be supporting it.  
 

The TBM, named in honour of Māori champion, Dame Whina Cooper, started its subterranean drive from CRL’s Mt Eden site into the central city. Its first destination will be the underground station below Karangahape Road before a planned arrival next spring at the project’s Aotea site. 
 

Kaumātua from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Father Christopher Denham, Dean of the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Joseph blessed Dame Whina Cooper and its crews before power was officially switched on and the TBM’s 7.15-metre-wide revolving cutter head began digging into the earth.  
 

Kai was shared with the  deserving team who have been working hard to prepare the TBM for its final launch. 
 

The TBM will arrive at Aotea Station in spring this year and you can follow its journey on www.digCRL.co.nz.

Hard Mahi to Complete the Easter Block of Line 

Congratulations to our team who worked tirelessly during the long Easter weekend, utilising a  Block of Line to undertake work that now positions the project well for the coming months.  
 

The team successfully constructed columns for the bridge that will provide pedestrian access from Mt Eden Road to the North Auckland Line (NAL) platform, while forming retaining walls on either side of the Porters Avenue level crossing.   
 

Having full access to the track, the team were able to focus on the replacement of sleepers for the Down Main and the realignment of the track which included the use of a tamper machine. The Down Main is the track for east bound trains, and is the track that both trains currently run on while work takes place on the Up Main. During the Block of Line, the team undertook track formation for the new Up Main which is the track for Westbound trains.   
 

We can expect to see both tracks reinstated by mid-2023 when the rail line will resume dual track operations. Ka pai on the hard mahi team! 

Structures Going Up, Up, Up! 

We’re not just building tunnels here at Mt Eden Station, we’re constructing some impressive structures across site too! 
 

Pictured above is the ventilation building that is starting to rise above ground. This building will play a very important job once complete, providing fresh air throughout the City Rail Link tunnels. 
 

We’re also constructing the enlarged and redeveloped Mt Eden train station building that will connect the City Rail Link lines to the North Auckland Line (formerly referred to as Western Line). Although the station building can’t be seen above ground yet, our crew are currently installing pile foundations with the station’s walls going up in the coming months. 

Find The Magic in Basque Park

To celebrate the playfulness and fun had in Basque Park, the location of the Link Alliance Pipe Diversion works, we asked the Learning Space - an early childcare centre nestled next to the park to contribute some artwork for our site hoardings. We received a dozen beautiful artworks from the children of The Learning Space that talented artist Erika Pearce used to inspire her mural titled ‘Find The Magic’ recently painted on our fences. 
 

Erika asked for the children to create artwork about the activities they like to do in the park and how they enjoy their time in nature.   
 

The mural design centres around the curiosity and wonderment experienced by children in nature. The magic of wishing on a dandelion, discovering wonderful new creatures and enjoying a picnic in the afternoon sun. It is a reminder for us all to stop, enjoy and appreciate the magic that surrounds us everyday. 
 

Many thanks to The Learning Space and Erika Pearce for bringing a touch of magic to Basque Park! 

Have your say – Basque Park 

As the Link Alliance complete the Basque Park Pipe Diversion works, Auckland Council have launched their “Have Your Say” campaign and are looking for feedback and input on how they can upgrade the innercity sanctuary. 
 

Auckland Council want to hear from you to ensure the upgrade of Basque Park meets the needs of our community. 
 

They want to hear: 

• how you use the park currently 

• what you would like to see in terms of play options and park development 

• how this park could be improved for informal recreation and play 

• how this park could be improved for whānau and rangatahi (young people). 

The survey closes 6 May 2022 with Auckland Council wanting to hear about your aspirations and ideas for Basque Park, pin a note on the map and/or fill in the survey. 
 

You can read more about the consultation and submit your thoughts by clicking the link here. 

One Bridge + One Month + Great Team = A Whole Lot of Progress! 

Sitting above the live North Auckland Line (NAL) near the Grafton end of Link Alliance construction, the Normanby Road bridge replaces what was once a level crossing.  
 

The photos in order of appearance show:  

• 24th March the concrete top deck poured  

• 22nd March the reinforcing steel installed 

• 6th March majority of the concrete deck installed  

• 1st March ahead of the deck installation for the southern side of the bridge 

An excellent transformation in a short timeframe! 
 

The dedicated construction team are now preparing to install the bridge's road features. This will include road barriers and footpaths, with asphalt to form the final road surface. These efforts will see the bridge open for use later this year. 
 

Want to know why you can see gaps in the bridges deck in the third picture? Check out our Jargon Buster below! 

Sneak Peek at Uptown Business Associations Food Book - Coming Soon! 

Here’s a little sneak peek for you – coming next month the Uptown Business Association will be releasing a tantalising new publication! Something to whet that palate, something to do with an abundance of fun, and food, and your letterbox! 
 

The Eden Terrace and Mt Eden precinct is blessed with an extraordinary abundance of food and hospitality offerings and we recognise it’s been a long haul for many local businesses since the start of the pandemic.  
 

At the Link Alliance, we proudly support the local business community working closely with the Uptown Business Association (UBA). We’ve lived in a strange world these past two years making it difficult to hold the community events that we love.  
 

The Link Alliance have proudly partnered again with the UBA to create an ‘everything you need to know about food and fun’ pocket guide. The guide will share Auckland’s best kept secret - unique local offerings you may not have known existed, talent you didn’t know you had access to, and maybe some new most favourite food and bevvy places.   
 

 This May - Getting back to the fun... has begun! 

Yoga, Mindfulness, Meditation and More 

On Monday 2nd May we will be relaunching our free wellbeing activities that will take place weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10 am – 2 pm inside our quiet space at Cityside Baptist Church (8 Mt Eden Road). 
 

If you took part in our wellbeing activities last year, you would recall that the team held online sessions of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation to support the community during lockdown. This time around we will be hosting our activities in person at our quiet space, as well as online!  
 

• Meditative Art sessions use mediums, techniques and methods for mental, emotional, and physical well-being to enhance  creativity and to increase self-awareness.  

• Yoga sessions focus on developing strength, stamina and flexibility, by performing a number of different yoga poses and flows to improve wellbeing and performance.  
   

To find our weekly activity schedule and online links click HERE or reach out to the team on 0800 CRL TALK (option 5) or mteden@linkalliance.co.nz.  

Community Manager's Pick - Brothers Beer Juke Joint BBQ 

We’re always on the hunt for our next favourite local so this month our Community Manager – Helga Sonier decided to try out one of our neighbouring eateries to see what all the fuss was about. Here’s how she went: 
 

Like my most favourite secret spot in Bali, Brothers Beer Juke Joint BBQ is a bit hidden but not-so-secret mecca for delicious food and drinks. Located on leafy Akiraho Street, just by the new City Rail Link development, there's plenty of parking available in their carpark out the back and on the roadside.  
 

This location is one of six in Auckland, and is home to their main production brewery. Once a leatherworks factory, the spot is a large space with a semi-covered outdoor area, a sandpit and old Morris Minor for the kids to play in and is very dog friendly. You'll find plenty of retro couches and upcycled bar leaners to sit with something for all different group sizes. The working brewery is a great focus point while enjoying a craft beer, wine, or soda and some traditional American BBQ. 
 

The food is, for me, the kicker and so this piece about Brothers Beer Juke Joint BBQ is going to be all about the food. 
 

I’m not always true to the faith, but I do try to be pescatarian a lot of the time. During a small gap where we could socialise recently, our team popped down to Brothers and I was genuinely delighted to find an excellent range of nibbles and mains for the vegetarian palate. Surprised? So was I! This was totally unexpected.  
 

Loaded spud skins with pulled jackfruit. Cauliflower buffalo bites and hush puppies (cornmeal balls filled with jalapeño and cheese) for starters. Main courses for vegan’s included pulled jackfruit spiced and simmered in Juke’s sauce and smoked tofu spiced and smoked – either one as a standalone meal or a sandwich. To keep me on the straight and narrow, a pescatarian salmon dish rubbed with pepper, lemon and herbs and then hot smoked. 
 

And finally, I am a poutine addicted Canadian and for those times I’ve fallen off the vegetarian food wagon, I have found a local that will satisfy my craving for carbs, comfort and home. The poutine settles it – if you haven’t been there, you must! 
 

Meat lovers – fear not, being a Southern-style American BBQ restaurant, there's still plenty of smoked meat options like brisket, ribs, wings, lamb shoulder, pork belly bites and fried chicken. Each is rubbed with a unique Juke rub, and smoked for over 12hrs over native wood. Enjoy it naked, or in a sourdough bun as a sandwich. 
 

Overall, Brothers Beer Juke Joint BBQ seems to tick all the boxes for a suburbian and welcoming space inside the City-fringe for all types, including us flexitarians! 

Connect With Us in May

We would like to welcome you to join the Mt Eden Station team on Tuesday 3rd of May for our monthly community drop-in session at Te Manawa.  
 

Our technical experts will be on site from 5 pm – 7 pm to chat about the topic of interest and answer any of your burning questions.   
 

The topic of interest in May is the Tunnel Boring Machine relaunch. Our TBM Construction Manager – Derek Whelan will be there to answer your burning questions and talk you through our TBM model on display (pictured above). 

We are excited to share the project up close with you on our monthly perimeter walk. Our Development Response Manager will be leading the next hour-long tour on Tuesday 3rd of May from Te Manawa (1 New North Road) at 4:30 pm.   
 

Our perimeter walks are where you can learn more about the project and what’s happening behind the hoardings. Perimeter walks do not enter the construction site, so all you need are your best walking shoes and a moderate level of fitness.  
 

Tours are free, just email mteden@linkalliance.co.nz to book as numbers are limited. Tours will be cancelled if weather conditions are unfavourable so please keep an eye on your email.   

TBM Thursdays Thanks

Kia ora to everyone who joined us on our TBM Thursdays tours this month! To celebrate the launch of the Dame Whina Cooper TBM our TBM experts hosted some special tours with Aucklanders to give people the opportunity to see the machine and learn about the impressive role it plays in the City Rail Link project. 
 

We had so much fun meeting our attendees and testing their knowledge with a quiz and prizes. Thanks to everyone who joined. We can’t wait to host more tours, keep an eye out on our social media channels for more tour dates in the future! 

If you have any questions about the project, you can contact us on 0800 CRL TALK (option 5 for Mt Eden Station) or mteden@linkalliance.co.nz.