Written by Imogen Trupinic, Senior Planner at Thomas Consultants The first step before undertaking works of any kind on your site is to know what you can and cannot do on the site. Once you know your property’s development potential and limitations, you can avoid hidden development costs, abatement notices or prosecution by Council. The…
The thought of subdividing your property is exciting and full of promise but the subdivision planning process can be a bit of a minefield! So to help get you started we spoke to our Planning team and asked them to provide their top tips. Hot off the press here they are…
Stormwater Drainage and Neighbourly Communication While neighbourly relationships can be fantastic, sometimes navigating them can feel complex. This is especially true when projects like property subdivision require connecting your stormwater drainage to a public drain located on your neighbour’s property. You’ll need their permission to proceed (we understand the potential concern this might cause!). Here’s…
Written by Ashwita Murphy, Planning Team Leader at Thomas Consultants Ltd Auckland Council is seeking consultation on the draft Auckland Future Development Strategy 2023-2053. The Future Development Strategy is the Council’s plan to manage growth across Tāmaki Makaurau for the next 30 years. It seeks to integrate long-term land use and infrastructure planning while meeting…
We have an exciting update from our Landscape Architecture team! Our Nohonga designed for the Te Nohonga Tuarua Seat Design Challenge Round Two, has now been officially installed at Britomart. The event is organised by Brick Bay, Britomart, Resene, and the NZILA. The challenge Back in June, our Landscape Architecture team were announced as finalists…
Construction Underway at Prospect Primary School We have had some progress with our project at Prospect Primary School! Thomas Consultants is offering our one-stop-shop of services – engineering, landscape architecture and project management services for a project at Prospect Primary School in Glen Eden. It is a multi-staged project to renew their outdoor court, drainage…
Written by Charlotte Grieve – Landscape Architect at Thomas Consultants How do you go about choosing the best plants for your garden, development or public/ commercial project? It depends upon what is being designed, the intent behind it and to what scale, whether a low-maintenance subdivision or a simple park. Ideally though diversity is best…
Churchill Park – Landscape Architecture Project Update This week our landscape architecture team visited again Churchill Park and the proposed lookout site to check in on progress as it develops. The seating isn’t bolted yet, just placed, but the project is near complete and is really taking shape! All concrete has been poured now, including…
Churchill Park – Landscape Architecture Project Update This week our landscape architecture team visited Churchill Park and the proposed lookout site there. The project is currently under construction and taking shape! So far there has been demolition of the redundant golf club house carpark and driveway. There has been an initial concrete pour and set…
Written by Canute Chandrakumaran – Land Development Team Leader at Thomas Consultants Ltd In most NZS 3910 physical works contracts, the Engineer will be named in the contract. He will not generally be a party to the contract. The Engineer will have input into the design produced on behalf of the principal. The Engineer will…
Written by Ashwita Murphy, Planning Team Leader at Thomas Consultants and Imogen Trupinic, Senior Planner at Thomas Consultants What is changing? The Government has proposed an overhaul of the current Resource Management Act (1991) (RMA). A total of three acts will replace the RMA: Natural Built Environments Act (NBA), Strategic Planning Act (SPA) and Climate…
Written by Sam Woolley, Team Leader Soils & Ecology What is a contaminated site? Land is contaminated when hazardous substances such as heavy metals and pesticides (including DDT, dieldrin, lead and arsenic) are found in the soil in concentrations above naturally occurring soil levels. You can find a detailed list of hazardous substances listed on…
