The Block An ecological analysis of the processes and functions occuring within an Auckland urban block and how it connects to the surrounding area.
Land 7401 Urban Ecology Student ID: 1364497 Written by Andrea Reid
Contents Context History -Overview -Comparison maps Sensory -Overview Flora -Overview -Existing vegetation analysis -Edge effects and disturbances -Species List Fauna -Overview -Insects -Birds -Bird Movement Cycle -Mammals Hydrology -Overview -Water cycle -Mitigation -Mitigation Diagram Conclusion
3 4 5 6-7 8 9-11 12 13-15 16 17 18 19 20-21 22 23 24 25 26
Context In New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, the site is situated on the edge of the Central Business District (CBD) between Ponsonby, Freemans
Bay and the CBD. Its boundary is from the corner of Ponsonby Road to Hopetoun Street, along Hopetoun Street to the
Hopetoun bridge, through the motorway segment and back along Karangangahape Road.
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History Standing on the ridge at the intersection of Ponsonby and Karangahape Roads stood a lone rimu tree. This ridge is known to Maori as Te Rimu Tahi (The Lone Rimu Tree) and Te To Pa was on the headland overlooking the bay. Both Ponsonby Road (along the ridge and down to the harbour) and Karangahape Road (along the upper ridge, across to gully) were some of the first roads in the area. This was due to the ease of travelling and developing along the ridges and the nature of the traveller’s needs (harbour access, start point for longer distance trips etc.). It is suspected that Ponsonby would have been the original proposed city centre as it was on a ridgeline, had good vision and its own port. As Queen’s Wharf became an easier and more accessible port to use, development would have shifted towards Queen Street. Land that was once set aside for commercial development would have been used for high density housing.
Overview As the CBD grew, the need for accomodation was on the rise - especially close to places of work along the aforementioned ridges. The main apartments were built in the late 1900s at the same time as the motorway was being built.
Queen Anne Style. Since the 1970s this building has been used to house art. The Unitarian Church (1a Ponsonby Road) was designed by architect Thomas White and built in 1901, based on a church in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1873 a contest for the design of City Park (now known as Western Park) was held. Sir George Grey and Judge Thomas Gillies donated specimen trees. The park opened in 1879 and work on the project continued for several decades. In 1886 the water reservoir on the corner of Karangahape and Ponsonby Roads was built.
Maori utilised the land’s resources and gathered flax and fish near Cox’s Bay. They camped, fished and traded from Waiatarau, or Freemans Bay. The streams in the area were sources of food and provided reeds used for bedding. A stream called the Tuna Mau used to run through Western Park and straight through the gully to the sea (which is now several kilometres away Historic Transport due to land reclamation). 1884 The first Horse Tram service from Queen Street to Ponsonby was started. It ran from 3 Lamps Historic Buildings to Queen Street via KarangaThe Art Station (1 Ponsonby hape Road, Pitt St, & Grey St. Road) was formerly the In 1956 The electric tram serGrey Lynn Police Barracks. vice was discontinued and the It was designed by architect tram tracks torn up. The overJohn Campbell and built in head wires continued to be used 1905 as an example of the for the electric trolley buses.
During the 1960s the motorway viaduct over Victoria Park was constructed. In the 1970s the electric trolley bus system was discontinued and the overhead wires taken down. In the 1990s the Link bus service commenced. Historic Events 1918 brought the great influenza epidemic and the wooden grandstand in Victoria Park was used as a temporary morgue. Bodies were then transported by train to Waikamete cemetery in West Auckland. Almost 1700 people perished in Auckland. In the 1990s the gay presence in the Ponsonby area was expressed by various annual events such as the Coming Out
Day and Hero Parades. The maps below show the significant changes over time such as the motorway interchange, the addition of apartments and the vegetation changes between sections of motorway and in Western Park.
History
Comparison maps
Sensory From the racy nightlife of Karangahape Road to the bustling coffee afternoons on Ponsonby Road, this block definitely has its fair share of community spirit and social buzz. Karangahape Road has long had a reputation for being a less than favourable area, predominantly filled with ‘adult’ shops and other questionable businesses. Its image has been improving over the past 10 years and is now becoming known for its bohemian shops and unique architecture. Ponsonby Road is a bustling hub of fashion boutiques, coffee bars and trendy shops with a high class atmosphere. It is interesting to note the change in atmosphere that occurs as one walks through the site from a lower socioeconomic area to a higher one, from Karangahape Road down Howe Street or Hereford Street towards Hopetoun Road and the Ponsonby area.
Overview
The vegetation on Karangahape Road is practically non-existent and increases as one moves towards Ponsonby, with street trees starting to appear on the joining streets as one moves north. The only vegetation on Karangahape Road is on the corner with Ponsonby Road at the petrol station. A huge section of land behind the petrol station and Karangahape Road shops owned by Watercare is not currently being utilised. It is creating a large dead space in the area which smells of the stagnant water leaking out through some of the gaps along the Ponsonby Road wall edge. Some small weeds and mosses are taking advantage of this situation and are growing against the wall where the water is coming out. A small car park off Hereford Street backs on to the water tank wall. There is a small amount of vegetation planted directly outside people’s homes and cared for privately. This in spite of there being an empty planter box running the length of the car park.The area has an
eery feel to it and is covered in rubbish like condoms and old underwear. It would be good to see this area reassessed and cleaned up. The paintings on the walls are a commendable attempt to brighten up an area which definitely needs more care and attention. Signs of community spirit and socialist action are apparent throughout the area, from ‘stop asset sales’ stickers on stop signs, to murals and paintings on walls. The area connecting Hereford Street and Howe Street has been renovated to suit a very high market, with exotic trees and a large tiled, shaded area in the centre, which no one appeared to be utilising on either of the occassions I went there. Hopefully the area will be used more in winter, in rainy conditions; it seems unnecessarily large to cater for the people in the surrounding apartments and offices, but could be utilised for big performance events as traffic noise is lowered in
Sensory
Overview continued
the central area of the block. Hereford Street and Howe quite dark and damp and Street. Ponsonby Road is also shady, mostly directly behind Noise pollution in the area is very congested, but has more the big apartment buildings. worst by the car park on Howe vegetation to absorb carbon street as there is a noisy generator emissions from the traffic. operating. General traffic noise Very little bird or insect noise and pollution fumes are usually was heard within the site unworst on Karangahape Road til reaching Hopetoun Street. and low on the back streets, including Hopetoun Street, Many aspects of the site felt
Flora
Overview The flora within the site is broken down into three sections: -Existing vegetation analysis -Edge effects and disturbances -Species list Note: This is not a definitive plant list, some species are still unknown.
Flora
Existing vegetation analysis
A. The Mobil petrol station on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Karangahape Road is home to an interesting array of native and exotic plants. Four large fanpalms structure the leftover petrol station area and are surrounded by a mix of native flaxes and grasses. Some lilies have been planted by the wall but are too shaded and are dying off. A few rogue tomato saplings are also growing in the area and some small weed saplings. The ground is covered in weed matting and bark. Most plants are in good condition and don’t appear to be affected by chemical poisoning from hazardous substances used in the area.
from the old Watercare tank. A planter box is situated at the end of the line of trees against the Art Station wall. It contains an unusual mix of griselinias, lilyturf and young forest cabbage trees. C. Two pot plants sit outside the Art Station door. They contain an unknown species of plant that looks like a common houseplant; it has palmately trifoliate leathery leaves, with a smooth bark and stands about 2 metres tall. One pot is also shared by another young tomato sapling. D. Few mosses can thrive in the dust, petrochemicals and concrete of cities. Urban mosses thrive in cracks and crevices in footpaths, kerbs, walls and drains where moisture collects and spores can lodge. A carpet of green moss lines both the ally ways that flank the Unitarian church. A variety of plants also line the Art Station side, including spotted laurel, karaka and some native grasses.
B. A long row of large exotic yunnan poplar trees line the street down the side of the Watercare tank, their roots starting to lift the concrete of the carpark that is laid right up to the bases of their trunks. A variety of small weed species have found their niche against the wall in gaps where stagnantsmelling water is leaking out E.
The
house
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Flora
Existing vegetation analysis continued
corner of Ponsonby Road and Hopetoun Street is a private property that has an amazing collection of plants literally overflowing from its boundaries. As it is private property it is not possible to identify all the species, but the key species seen from outside were maupo, forest cabbage tree, several mature unknown tree/shrub species, various climbers and epiphytes and a beautiful large coral tree that had grown so big its roots were starting to undermine the footpath and some of the fence palings have had to be removed to facilitate its expanding trunk. A small vegetable garden also appears to be being cultivated within. F. Large oriental plane tree specimens line the Ponsonby end of Hopetoun street. They also line sections of Howe and Hereford Streets. Some smaller specimens have been planted more recently in the gaps between the larger specimens on Hopetoun street and are currently being braced. The large plane trees have
had to have their branches shaped around the power lines, indicating a less than wise choice in original positioning.
trees, toe toe and lancewood. All vegetation is thriving and having a positive effect on the overall ecological system.
G. The gardens outside the mixed use housing and apartments along Hopetoun street are primarily exotic. Yuccas are a prominent feature, especially along the balconies of the penthouse apartment suites. Boxed hedging is used along some areas, such as outside the mixed use housing backing on to Western Park. Birds of paradise, banana plants, date palms and other various exotic trees are planted in front of the apartments. Many natives are also used here including dwarf pohutukawa as hedging along the front of apartments, native grasses (some of which are not surviving well) lines of hebes and a variety of native flaxes.
I. The area behind the apartments contains a tennis court, swimming pool and a small amount of planting in unused areas. A few trees are planted around the tennis court and pool area. An unused, fenced-off Watercare space has become overgrown with an unusual variety of mainly exotics (it was hard to identify species as the area was inaccessible).
J. Two beautiful exotic twisting trees stand on the corner of Hopetoun and Herringford Streets are thought to be Chinese willow trees. These trees provide a vegetation patch system as they link up with Western Park and the other large exotic trees further H. The entrance onto up the road, which provide Western park from Hopetoun good roosting spots for birds. Street is very steep and has been Along the wall of the revegetated with a lot of native K. planting. This includes a variety Watercare unit on Heredford of flaxes, grasses, cabbage Street stand two fine, mature
Flora
Existing vegetation analysis continued
plane trees, but the land beneath their feet is very barren and bare, littered with human waste products collecting amongst the leaves. A lone exotic palm attempts to grow in the corner, but is not doing well. A closedoff no-access area of Watercare has become overgrown with an unusual variety of exotic species, including more Chinese willow trees; this area has the potential to be opened up and enjoyed. L. Along the front of the apartments halfway down Hopetoun Street is a hedge of Pohutukawa and a stand of bird of paradise; this is a very beneficial patch of vegetation as all the flowers are attracting the local pollinators and there are not many flowering plants in the area at this time of the season. A stretch of hebes and hibiscus along the front of the other apartments also facilitate pollination.
used within the area is primarily exotic, except the nikau featured at the entrance on Hereford Street. Planter boxes throughout the site are over-flowing with banana trees, queens palms, nikau, date palms and other various exotics. Most of the area is tiled and covered in a huge sail shade, so the planter boxes are pushed to the edges of the site. Two large date palms frame the Howe Street entrance.
N. Towards the Hopetoun bridge approach there are more patches of birds of paradise, dwarf pohutukawa and banana palms outside the apartments and swathes of ivy and wisteria covering the fence that runs parallel to Hopetoun bridge. Plane trees line the other side of the road and apartment buildings have small, well-maintained exotic plants, such as yuccas and trimmed hedge plants, which M. The plaza is an upmarket contribute very little back to area that connect Hereford and the natural ecological cycle. Howe Streets. The vegetation
O. Plane trees are the main ecological feature on Howe Street and continue down both sides of the other half of the street. They create a strong ecological nesting corridor for birds and link back in with Western Park at the other end. P. There are patches of native vegetation planted in all the gaps between sections of motorway and this is fantastic for reducing carbon emissions, but should we be encouraging our bird and animal species to venture so close to this hazardous area? Q. Western Park lies parallel to the block and directly influences the vegetation on the site. There are many native plantings and a range of specimen trees including Dutch elms, English elms, Camperdown elms, red maple and notable specimens of weeping lilly pilly, brush cherry, camphor laurel, Canary Island pine, Himalayan cypress, Queensland Kauri, Cook Pine and Moreton Bay fig.
Flora
Edge effects and disturbances is creating a corridor along the street for pollinators to follow. These pollinators are likely to have travelled from the larger vegetation patch of Western Park, so have the built environment of houses/school and a road to travel through before they The closed-off area behind the can reach the vegetation. Watercare tank is dark and damp, yet the exotic vegetation The native vegetation that is is overgrown, thriving and striv- planted in the gaps between is ing for light. The area edges on sections of motorways to two impervious substances; fantastic for absorbing the a footpath and a carpark. It carbon emissions from the large is also contained by a fence, volumes of traffic, but may not forming an edge with the buillt be so great when native insects environment that would be and birds attempt to cross these non-existant if things had been sections of motorway to get to left to grow naturally in a per- the flowering flax on the other vious surface. The plants adapt side. Motorways are dangerous to these restrictions of the built for any species and dividing the environment and grow denser. vegetation up with high speed roads could be more detrimental The exotic plants in the plaza area than benificial in the long run are limitted by the planterbox if native species are suffering. walls they are confined to disturbance in the and are in competition with The other plants, buildings and Watercare wall where water the shade sail for light. is leaking out has become a niche edge environment for the The edge of floral vegetation weed species growing in it. This along the front of the apartments efficient collection by plants of Ecological edges arise when two habitat types come into contact with each other. The main habitat types on site are the built-up area and the small patches of vegetation. Each patch of vegetation has to interact with the built-up habitat that surrounds it.
water in a place with no soil inspires one to admire the hardiness of some species. The plane trees at the Ponsonby end of Hopetoun Street have been disturbed by the powerline which is disecting its growing line, causing humans to mutilate its branches around the shape of the powerline. The beautiful large coral tree in the property on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Hopetoun Street has grown so big its roots have started to undermine the footpath and some of the fence palings have had to be removed to facilitate its expanding trunk. Built features such as fencing and footpaths are not enough to hold this specimen back. The adaptations flora and fauna make to live in the built urban environment humans have created is remarkable and shows how resilient nature is.
Flora
Species List
Botanical name
Common name
Family name
Av. #
Native Location/ or exotic comments
Acuba japonica spotted laurel Garryaceae 3 E
Between the Art Station and the Unitarian church. Has yellow spotted leaves.
Austroderia fulvida
toe toe
Poaceae
15
N
Entrance to Western park from Hopetoun Street.
Carex dipsacea
carex grass
Cyperaceae
30
N
Entrance to Western park from Hopetoun Street.
Ceratodon purpureus moss Ditrichaceae 1000+ E spores
Along the footpath and fence of both alleyways on either side of the Unitarian church. Also down the wall of the water care unit where water is leaking out and on the southern side of the fence polls along Hopetoun Street.
Cordyline Australis cabbage tree Asparagaceae 30+ N
One between the Art Station and the church, one in property on corner of Ponsonby Road and Hopetoun Street. Also a big group in the Hopetoun entrance to Western Park.
Cordyline banksii forest cabbage Laxmanniaceae 10 N tree
In art station planter box, filling in spaces in griselinia hedge, not doing too well. Also several in corner property of Ponsonby Road and Hopetoun street.
Corynocarpus laevigatus Cycas species.
karaka
-
Corynocarpaceae
2
N
Between the Art Station and the Unitarian church.
Cycadaceae
5
E
In the planter boxes along the Mahon Way plaza.
Erythrina sykesii coral tree Fabaceae 1 E
On the corner of Hopetoun Street and Ponsonby Road breaking through the fence.
Griselinia littoralis
In art station planter box, making a nice hedge
kapuka
Griseliniaceae
4
E
Flora
Species List
Hebe sp.
hebe
Plantaginaceae
15
E
Along the front of the apartment in a line.
Hedera Canariensis
ivy
Araliaceae
1
E
Growing on fence by school
Hemerocallis fluva
yellow lily
Hemerocallidaceae 3
E
At petrol station by water care wall- dying, unfortunately
Hibiscus sp. hibiscus Malvaceae 5 E
Interspersed in the plants along the front of the apartments along Hopetoun Street.
Liriope muscari
lilyturf
Metrosideros dwarf polymorpha “Tahiti”
Myrtaceae pohutukawa
Ruscaceae
6
E
In the planter box by the art station, good ground cover
20
N
Used as a hedge and edging in front of apartments.
Musa sapientum banana plant Musaceae 6 E Pennisetum kikuyu grass Poaceae cont. N clandestinum runners
Growing between neighbouring properties and as lawns, some growing up and through the ivy on the fence by the school.
Phoenix canariensis
Canary Island Arecaceae 3 E date palm
Corner of Hopetoun Street and Hereford Street and 2 at the entrance to the plaza off Hereford Street.
Phormium ‘Pink Panther’
flax
Xanthorrhoeaceae 15
N
Entrance to Western park from Hopetoun Street.
Phormium cookianum flax
Xanthorrhoeaceae 15
N
Entrance to Western park from Hopetoun Street.
Pittosporum mapou Pittosporaceae 10 N tenuifolium
One in front of apartment with bird of paradise plant and several in the planter boxes along the walkway through the Mahon Way plaza
The house garden on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Hopetoun Street
Flora Platanus orientalis
Species List oriental plane Platanaceae 20 E tree
Common street tree in the area. Lining sections of Hopetoun Street, Howe Street and Hereford Street.
Populus yunnanensis yunnan poplar Salicaceae 10 E
Along Ponsonby Road between the petrol station and the Art Station, beside the Watercare tank.
Pseudopanax crassifolius
Entrance to Western park from Hopetoun Street.
lancewood
Araliaceae
2
N
Rhopalostylis sapida nikau palm Arecaceae 20 N
In planter boxes all along the plaza walkway, especially at the Hereford Street entrance.
Salix matsudana Chinese willow Salicaceae 5 E
On the corner of Hereford and Hopetoun street and in the closed-off water care lot.
Sesbania punicea wisteria Fabaceae 2 N
A beautiful red flowering wisteria on the fence of one of the mixed-use houses that backs on to Western park.
Solanum lycopersicum tomato plant Solanaceae 4 E
Several tomato plant saplings were found growing within the block, 3 at the petrol station and 1 in the art station pot plant.
Strelitzia reginae
bird of paradise Strelitziaceae
Syagrus romanzoffiana queen palm
Arecaceae
3
E
Along the front of the Hopetoun Street apartments.
10
E
Growing on balcony apartment in front of shelter structure.
Unknown species - - 2 E
Planted in pots outside the Art Station. Common houseplant has palmate trifoliate leathery leaves
Washingtonia filifera fanpalm Arecaceae 4 E
Large specimen trees on the corner of Ponsonby and Karangahape Road.
Yucca elephantipes
On the balconies of a lot of the apartment buildings.
yucca
Asparagaceae
10
E
Fauna
Overview
The fauna within the site is broken down into three sections: -Insects -Birds -Mammals Each section states only what was encountered on the days of site visits. Note: Humans are included in the mammal section. Although often thought of as seperate from the natural world, the way humans integrate with the existing ecology and the built world is the subject of my analysis.
Fauna
Insects The main insects seen on site were wasps (Vespula vulgaris) and honey bees (Apis mellifera). They were seen on the dwarf pohutukawa hedge and the bird of paradise bushes pollinating the flowers along Hopetoun Street. There are not many flowering plants within the area, so this strip of planting is very beneficial to the insects in the area. Other insects such as ants, spiders, caterpillars, flies and beetles are likely to have been in the environment. A Gypsy Moth trap was found hanging on one of the plane trees at the Ponsonby Road end of Hopetoun Street. Eggs from Asian gypsy moths, which are considered to be one of the most destructive forest pests in the world, were found during border checks at the Ports of Auckland in 2012. This trap is part of the eradication programme to catch any moths that may have hatched in the Auckland area.
Fauna
Birds
Birds were not a common sight within the area. Most were found near the Western Park end of the block along Hopetoun Street. Several sparrows (Passer domesticus) were seen and heard flitting around, perching on fences and in the larger street trees in the side roads. A few waxeye (Zosterops lateralis) were enjoying the bird of paradise plants along Hopetoun Street and seagulls (Larus canus) and pigeons (Columbidae) never fail to arrive when there is human food waste to be cleaned up. Western Park bush mature
attract tuis (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) and other native birds like fantails (Rhipidura fuliginosa), as long as they can find sufficient links through the city to access a large enough variety of food sources. The following diagrams show how birds can currently connect with the surrounding area with the current patches of vegetation for shelter and food. It also shows how they can connnect with the wider Auckland area, including the closest core area of bush, the Waitakere Ranges. It can be seen that more ecological has native corridors would be highly enough to benificial to enhancing bird life.
Fauna
Bird Movement Cycle
Fauna
Mammals
The site was overpopulated with humans. Humans of varying ages, genders, occupations and socioeconomic classes occupied the site in varying ways. Students crammed into grungy student flats along Karangahape Road, rich buisness workers lounging in their penthouse apartment suites, street sleepers finding a spot to call their own for the night, musicians joining together in the pub for a sing, art conneseurs assessing art in the Art Station, church goers gathering at the Unitarian church, animal lovers walking their dogs through Western Park and old friends socialising over a cup of coffee. The social behaviours linking how humans interactact with ecology are interesting to analyse. Most people who were stopping for a lunch break would sit or stand close to a patch of vegetation rather than away from it, this was clearly seen at the plaza, where everyone was gathered along planter walls rather than sitting beneath the huge shade sail that
had been provided for them. It is also interesting to note that even with the slightest change in sociodemographics from one street to the next, that the amount of vegetation cover changes. The sociodemographic of Hopetoun Street is higher than Karangahape Road and the vegetation cover and quality is reflected in this directly. The low socioeconomic areas have planter boxers that have been empty for years that are covered in litter, but the planter boxes outside the higher socioeconomic zones are always packed with well cared for vegetation. The higher socioeconomic zones also have a tendancy to use structural exotics as they are easy to maintain and care for, so the use of natives needs to be encouraged when these planting decisions are made. The general area is very built up and specifically designed for human living and interactions. Much of the area is paved to make it easier for the human species to walk and drive their vehicles
on. This act of convenience however brings many problems when it comes to drainage. Unusual choices in dwellings are made, such as stairs going up to a set of windows that don’t open. Signs that humans have recently occupied an area are items of litter left behind and the occasional shoeprint. Their mating ritual normally occurs indoors, but will often happen in dark areas within the infrastructure. Signs of this having occured are contraceptive packaging and underwear. Many homeless people the area and will use such as this stoop to take cover for the
live in places (right) night.
Domesticated dogs and cats were also seen in the area. A friendly cat came out to greet us along Hopetoun Street. A natural killer, this lovely feline will be contributing to the decimation of the bird and insect population on Western Park.
Fauna
Mammals continued
Several dogs were also sighted on Western Park, along Ponsonby Road and up on Karangahape Road beside the Thirsty Dog bar and cafe where some water had been left out for them. The area, especially along Ponsonby Road, is welcoming to dogs. This is a rare occurance as most of the city is somewhat dog-intolerant.
Another common mammal in the streetscape is the rat (Rattus norvegicus), cleaning up food waste that is continuously dropped in city areas. Often seen as pests, these animals work in the natural cycle to clean up the mess and waste the human species produces.
Hydrology Water is the life-blood that flows through us all. Many members of the human species have lost their connection with water and regard it as an external substance that needs to be mitigated. By living in communities sealed with impervious ground covers and receiving unlimited amounts of water straight from a tap, many have lost their connection and understanding of our moana. Over 80% of the site is made up of impervious surfaces, with just under 20% being permeable enough to let water infiltrate the ground. This creates a lot of runoff and as the site is on a ridgeline, all water will be running down from that point. The stormwater drains cannot currently handle the huge amount of runoff from the streets so much of the footpath fills with water in the dips. This is particularly bad on Hopetoun Street by the entrance to Western Park. Most of the runoff will travel
Overview
down into Western Park where it will soak into the ground and be absorbed by plants until the excess results in flooding. The huge Watercare storage tank not currently in use creates a water collection point that falls directly off the sides of the building. It smells of the stagnant water leaking through the walls along Ponsonby Road and in the gap between the two tanks.
Hydrology
Water cycle
Hydrology The following possible techniques for
Mitigation
are some The original positioning of mitigation the Tuna Mau stream through the area. Western Park should be assessed and possibly reinstated The vast areas of impervious through the reclaimed land to surfaces could be reduced by clean the water before going out replacing the carparks, footpaths to sea just past Victoria Park. and even roads with a permeable stone. This would have the The unused Watercare tanks advantage of allowing rainwater could be used to collect to enter the ground at source, rainwater to be used by helping to remove pollutants, the local block inhabitants. recharging underground Alternatively they could be aquifers, lessening the burden completely removed and of storm surges on sewers made in to an artificial wetland and local water bodies and pond that collects and filters reducing the ‘heat island’ effect stormwater back into the aquifer. associated with paved areas. The streets such as Howe All current vegetated areas and Hereford that are facing in planter boxes should towards Western Park are be planted so water can quite steep so a large volume directly infiltrate the ground. of water runs down them swiftly and drains straight into Living roofs should be Western Park. To lesson this retrofitted on the tops of all speed and increase the quality buildings to reduce runoff of the runoff, staggered planter quantity and increase the boxes could be placed down quality of the water going the street, planted with native into our stormwater systems. grasses and trees to filter runoff.
The petrol station forecourt should remain imperveous to protect the environment from pollutants and industrial strength stormwater filters should be put in place.
Hydrology
Mitigation Diagram
Conclusion This report has analysed the ecological processes and functions that occured within an urban block in the heart of Auckland and how it conected to the surrounding area.
how this will affect the dynamics on site. A new Countdown is proposed slightly further down Ponsonby Road and this type of large scale development often brings intensification of housing, which affects vegetation. The atmosphere from the racy Perhaps the dead spaces onsite nightlife of Karangahape Road will be better utilised when this to the bustling coffee afternoons new development is completed. on Ponsonby Road, made this block a fascinating place to study. References The vegetation was varied and a lot can be learnt from where Cranwell, L. M. (1981). The a plant is positioned or how it Botany of Auckland. Auckland, is coping in a particular area. New Zealand: The Auckland Institute and War Memorial The history and hydrology of Museum. the area was fascinating to Esler, A. E. (1987). Naturalisation study. It would be interesting of plants in urban Auckland. to study the implications of Crown copyright. reintroducing the Tuna Mau Esler, A. (2004). Wild Plants Stream into the ecosystem to in Auckland. Auckland, New help mitigate the large amount Zealand: Auckland University of stormwater runoff produced Press. by Auckland’s CBD every year. J.T.Salmon. (1980). The Native Trees of New Zealand. Future development is planned Auckland, New Zealand: Reed for the area and its surroundings. Books. It would be interesting to see Lendrum, T. A. (2013).
Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand. Retrieved 5 21, 2013, from NZ Lendrums -The Lendrums in New Zealand: h t t p:// w w w. n z l e n d r u m s . co.nz/photographs-/ponsonbyauckland-nz Wilcox, M. D. (2012). Auckland’s Remarkable Urban Forest. Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland Botanical Society.