P3
P1 P2
P4
stormwater management + treatment
P1
view of bridge looking south from parallel north bank
merging green + grey infrastructure
utilising existing infrastructure to integrate natural and man-made systems
P2
view of bridge looking east from west bank towards viewing platform
community integration + connectivity improved pedestrain connectivity to open space, community services, transport centres and key economic growth areas of Otahuhu and Papatoetoe
P4 P3
view of storm water treatment wetlands from north looking south
ecological restoration + enhancement
existing main Hunua potable water supply pipes crossing estuary looking east from near Otara Spinal Clinic (same location as photo P2 above right)
view of bridge looking west from east bank towards Tip Top bread factory
A A1
education by design + experience
increasing awareness of and opportnities for connection to this unique ecological resource to restore and protect for future generations
B1 B
re-engagement with the Tamaki strengthen cultural and social ties to the water by regaining historic access to the River, while improving environmental conditions
C
B
B1 A1
C
west bank
C1
east bank
C1
A
TAMAKI GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH PLAN Upper Tamaki River: a model for sustainable suburban renewal
Given the close proximity to central Auckland, the Tamaki River edge provides opportunities to test future urban development scenarios for the region. Given the strategic importance and longstanding human use of the area, the River serves as a cultural, social, transportation and environmental heritage feature to the Auckland region. If Auckland is to become “the world’s most liveable city”, the anitcipated growth and intensifaction of the city must be undertaken with a sustainble apporach.
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This project aims to remedy the piecemeal expansion of the city in the past that has lead to community severance, both social and ecological, that has disconnected people from the environment. By addressing exisiting problems prior to new development, it is proposed that greater maximaisation of space could be achieved.
SH1
Otahuhu
LAND7226 Studio Heather Docherty 1345281
Otara Scale 1:100,000 Scale 1:100,000
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If the amount of impervious surface areas increase with anticipated development in the catchment, the volume of run-off directly entering the River will be set increase. In conjunction with upgrading the vehicle fleet and retrofitting roof structures to address the sources of heavy metal contaminants, it is vital that people are engaged, educated and made more aware of the River and the unique social and ecological values that it has to offer. Mangrove ecosystems are taken for granted and at times much maligned. However, they play a key role in stabilising coastline sediment run-off as well as fulfilling a very specialised ecological function. The Tamaki River provides an opportunity to test design interventions that compliment this role, while improving water quality and taking into account the social needs of the current and future population.
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This suburb is proposed as the testing ground to apply the theory that by providing opportunity for local communities to (re)engage with the Tamaki River, a range of social, cultural and ecological benefits could be produced.
Vital infrastructure networks that required over time have sliced up the city, creating pockets of urban isolation. What was once industrial land has now been engulfed by suburbia, leading to areas of fragmented urban fabric, created by outdated planning zone rules. As the urban environment has grown, so too has the volume of storm water run-off. Vast quantities of untreated storm water and litter enter the Tamaki River, particularly from stormwater drains, giving the River one of the poorest ecological ratings in the Auckland area.
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The site was selected by overlaying 10 sub-catchment areas of the poorest storm water treatment levels with 10 census area units of low social indicator results (see map, left). Each of these overlaps were assessed in terms of potential and opportunity for suburban renewal, with the final selection of Wymondley. The area is representative of many suburbs around the Tamaki edge, such as Point England and Otara, where old entrenched areas of state housing have been intensified around, or isolated by the shift of industry elsewhere.
Laxon
tS
Typical of many 1940s state house suburbs, Wymondley is comprised of curving roads and cul-de-sacs, bound by the Tamaki River along the north-west edge. Only Wymondley Road leads into the suburb from the south, from Otara or Otahuhu via Bairds Road, while SH1 creates the eastern perimeter, adjacent to Highbrook Power Station. At roughly 500 metres at the widest point to 850m at the longest, the suburb comprises 19 hectares of low-density housing, serviced by Wymondley Primary School, a dairy and a liquor store.
In terms of infrastructure, the area around Wymondley was highly used by both Maori and European settlers. One of the earliest European stores, Baird’s Wharf, was located within the site, serviced by a wharf that sizeable ships could reach. Mangrove growth has increased rapidly over the past 50 years, preventing access to the water. The main barrier to accessing the river is the development of major grey infrastructure, including State HIghway 1, the main potable water main pipeline from the Hunua Ranges to supply Auckland and the national power grid, serviced by the nearlby HIghbrook Power Station.
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R airds
B 100m
Papatoetoe
Wymondley, Otara West
structure plan
Upper Tamaki River Park Suburb Renewal - Structure Plan Stage One highlighted in orange area (detail plan below left)
stage one concept plan Laxon Ave pedestrian pipe bridge salt swamp - mangrove management salt marsh - revegetation sustainable hardwood steps to jetty down to salt marsh bridge viewing platform
Laxo
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water mains pipe 3m wide sustainable hardwood bridge with stainless steel detailing over pipes permable paving 3-6m wide footpath gathering plaza 3m wide sustainable hardwood boardwalks over vegetation storm water treatment wetlands coastal clay bank revegetation amenity plantings open space
100m
infrastructure follows infrastructure Conceptual design development of Structure Plan