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Project Manukau Coastal and Foreshore Restoration

LOCATION: Manukau Harbour Auckland
CLIENT: Watercare Services Limited
CONTACT: Sarah Collins
OUR ROLE: Ecological and landscape rehabilitation plan, landscape design, interpretation signage, advisory overseeing of site works.

Project Manukau was one of New Zealand's largest construction projects ($451 million budget). It involved a major upgrade of the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant, including the removal of 500 hectares of oxidation ponds from Manukau Harbour and the rehabilitation of 13 kilometres of coastal foreshore.

The project was led by Watercare Services Limited – the Auckland region's bulk water and wastewater service provider. Boffa Miskell assisted Watercare to prepare a Coastal and Foreshore Restoration Plan and was responsible for the design concepts, construction drawings and contract documents required to implement the landscape works.

Our multidisciplinary team included specialists in landscape architecture, ecology, and interpretative signage and 'way finding'. They developed a concept plan that would be in keeping with the original form and character of Manukau Harbour and would also:

  • restore ecosystems;
  • rehabilitate the coastal environment, including protection of sensitive bird habitats;
  • mitigate the visual impact of structures;
  • recognise important cultural heritage values; and
  • provide for passive recreation by developing paths, signage, on-site interpretation and visitor facilities.

In conjunction with Watercare, close working relationships were established with the Project Manukau Community Liaison Group and Makaurau Marae to ensure the community had input to the project.

The landscape works included the planting of more than 300,000 native seedlings, grown from eco-sourced seed, and the construction of 13 kilometres of walking tracks, as well as the installation of bird hides, car parking, boardwalks and interpretative signage.

Award

Vice President's Award of Excellence, International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), Eastern Region Awards 2003.

Others we worked with closely: Naturally Native (plant supply), HEB Smithbridge Ltd, Parks & Reserves team (project and planting implementation)