The Client:
Auckland Council – Healthy Waters
The Site:
Blackgate Reserve, Clendon Park, Auckland
The Project:
Auckland Council Healthy Waters team engaged our Landscape Architecture, Engineering and Ecology teams to support the design and construction of Auckland Council’s Blackgate Reserve Offset Mitigation project. This project has been commissioned in order to offset the loss of ecological value due to various development and infrastructure provision projects that propose to degrade streams in Auckland. The Healthy Waters department of Auckland Council has identified the stream in Blackgate Reserve as suitable for rehabilitation.
The stream has been artificially straightened and lined with a 770 m long concrete V-shaped channel. There is essentially no riparian planting on either side of the stream, apart from a small number of trees in the middle and upper sections of the reserve.
The Goal:
The objectives of this project are to increase the ecological and amenity value of the Blackgate Reserve stream to offset the loss of ecological values from development and/or the provision of infrastructure elsewhere in the region. To achieve this, the proposed rehabilitation project will remove the entirety of the concrete lined channel, realign the channel to incorporate meanders, provide pool-riffle sequences, add woody debris for habitat provision and provide a riparian buffer with an average width either side of the stream of 9.2m.
The Process:
Resource Consent has been granted based on the TCL concept design (support by TCL specialist inputs) and will now move into the procurement and construction phases.
The concept phase included CPTED review, Mana Whenua engagement and stakeholder liaison as well as design co-ordination between disciplines and ensuring standards and requirements were met by the design.
The Value:
Experienced designers with a good understanding of working with Auckland Council – Healthy Waters and the particular challenges faced by those types of landscaped spaces.
The Outcome:
The proposed channel realignment and riparian planting will increase the ecological value of the reserve by creating a more natural stream and increasing the amount of native flora and fauna in the area. This will increase the amenity value of the reserve and make it a more enjoyable location for the local community and help foster a sense of pride in the area and will also increase the value of the surrounding area. Completion of the project will allow for further growth, development, and the provision of infrastructure in the wider Auckland Region.
Auckland Council called the stream plan a ‘win for Manurewa environment.’ Manurewa Local Board Chair Joseph Allan says concrete channelling will go as part of moves to improve awa and waterways throughout the area.
“Planting will take place from April to September next year and Healthy Waters will work with the community park ranger to organise planting days,” Allan says. Our communities have been enthusiastic volunteers at many planting days across the rohe, as people seek to take a hands-on role in protecting and enhancing their local environment.” He says the work is consistent with the Board’s stated aim of ensuring the natural environment is valued, protected and enhanced. “There can be no doubt that the proposed stream restoration and planting will improve water quality and amenity values within Blackgate Reserve.”
You can read more on what Joseph Allan has to say HERE
The Services Thomas Consultants Ltd offered under one roof:
Project Partners:
Auckland Council Healthy Waters
Completion:
Estimated end of 2023
Well done to our team members Joseph McCready, Melanie Dixon and Christian Castle who worked on this project.
