Planning practices for the Huntly section of the Waikato Expressway has seen NZTA and Hamilton-based consultancy Bloxam Burnett and Oliver win a number of accolades at the 2015 NZ planning institute awards.
Two parties jointly claimed the best practice award for district and regional planning, and the Nancy Northcroft supreme best practice award.
The Huntly section involves 15km of four lane expressway, 4million square metres of earthworks, an 80m cut through the Taupiri Range, and more than 100ha of forest, bush and wetland enhancement and permanent protection of a sacred lagoon and two pa.
Close engagement with affected parties throughout the development phase resulted in no resource consent hearings being required, and only a brief hearing to finalise designation conditions, with no appeals to the Environment Court.
The judges described the project as “demonstrating outstanding creativity and innovation in an example of best practice planning in an environmentally and culturally sensitive environment”.
NZTA highways manager, Kaye Clark says the Huntly section of the Waikato Expressway will make a sizeable ecological contribution to the area.
“More than 100ha of forest and bush habitat enhancement, including landscape and restoration planting of riparian, forest areas and wetland have been planned as part of the project,” she says.
“The project team has also partnered with iwi to ensure the Huntly section recognises the rich cultural history of the area.
“A number of pou will be installed along the route and distinctive designs reflecting the awa (river) and native wildlife will be incorporated on three of the section’s bridges and the historic pa sites of Otaahau and Te Uapata will also be recognised.
Clark says collaboration with stakeholders such as Waikato-Tainui, the Department of Conservation, Waikato Regional Council and Waikato District Council, created such a positive outcome.
The Waikato Expressway Huntly section is set to start taking shape in September.
In March, the Transport Agency board approved $1.08 billion to fund construction of the Hamilton and Longswamp sections, enabling completion of the expressway.
The green light from the board means that all seven sections of the expressway will be built, under construction or out to tender by the end of 2015.
