Puhinui Gateway A TYPOLOGY OF LIVING CORRIDORS
auckland urban growth strategy 2014
PHASE II
RACHEL BUTLER, CARLOS CHARLTON, TIM RICHARDSON, ZHOU FAN
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION RATIONALE CONTEXT ORIGINAL DESIGN CONCEPT ANALYSIS LANDFROM ASPECT LAND USE CAPABILITY LAND COVER SLOPE HYDROLOGY FLOW ACCUMULATION INDIVIDUAL CONCEPTS BIOPHILIC URBANISM PUHINUI LIVING CORRIDOR GEOMETRIC NATURE WALKABLE URBAN ECOLOGIES
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introduction This project investigates a 90 hectare site within the Puhinui rural area. Through analysis of landform, hydrology, landcover and soil the project will produce a masterplan for urban development combining high-density residential with other forms of development. The overall aim is to realise the potential for development based on the natural attributes of the environment. Auckland growth
Auckland CBD
Auckland Airport
Puhinui site
As of 2008 more than half of the world’s population were living in cities. Over the next 20 years Auckland’s population is set to rise from 1.3 million to over 2.5 million people. As a result of this increase, the Auckland Plan has been generated with the goal of “becoming the world’s most liveable city”. 60% of this growth is anticipated as being intensification of existing suburbs, while the remaining 40% will occur as new growth areas on existing greenfield sites. The Auckland Plan was an initiative produced in March 2012 by the Council. It is the framework for Auckland’s future, giving a vision for the next 30 years, as it deals with the current problematic issues of sustaining and protecting our environment, creating jobs, providing better education and dealing with transport and housing issues as the Auckland population continues to rise. Overall they have one guiding vision that shaped the Auckland, Unitary and City Centre Master Plans. The task is to design a proposal and strategy for urban development at a site primarily zoned at high-density.
Context Our original design for the entire Puhinui site was based on the concept of liveability, with our final plan being titled the Puhinui Gateway. This was a mimic of the existing Mangere Gateway, the design drivers being that our site sits in the direct flight line of Auckland Airport Our chosen site intersects existing Puhinui and Prices roads, and also has inlets from the Pukaki-Waokauri stream. This means that any future development will need to incorporate best practice for ecological areas to ensure that the water quality is not degraded by any urban development. We have chosen to modify our zones from our original design plan. This was to better fit more zones into our chosen 90ha site.
ORIGINAL DESIGN CONCEPT
ANALYSIS
Landform There are three ridge lines that run through our chosen site, characterised by the depressions in the landscape which form from the estuary inlets. The areas shown in thick red line indicate areas of land over 8 degrees in slope, due to risk of erosion these areas of land will be site aside for revegetation or incorporated into the proposed estuary buffer zone
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aspect GIS analysis has identified the areas onsite which are of a north-facing direction. Northern aspects are characteristically warmer and therefore better suited for zoning housing and food growing. South facing slopes are a lot colder and damper; while these slopes can be used through effective mitigation in insulation South facing slopes on site will be included in the revegetation zoning, those within proximityof the estuary will be especially useful for incorporating as part of larger riparian planting.
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land cover Current landcover onsite consists of open pastural farming. The majority of the land is classified as high-producing exotic grassland, while the other patcheds are defined as being short-rotation cropland, currently used for market gardening. Existing shelterbelts are of significance for future planning as these will be able to be used for framing different zones, and creating smaller micro-climates onsite. The shelterbelts are comprised of exotic species, including macrocarpa, poplars and eucalypts.
LCDB
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land use capability (luc) Gis analysis on site showed us that the LUC of our smaller site was all of category 2, with variances between the erosion risk (e), and the level of rock substrate (s). Category 2 soils are still of relatively high-quallity and suitable for all activities.
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hydrology The majority of our chosen site sits within the Pukaki-Waokauri catchment. The site is split in half by the presence of a stream running off the estuary. To protect the quality of these waterways we will all maintain the previous buffer zones created in our last project.
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FLOW ACCUMULATION GIS analysis of the overland flow patterns and the rates of water accumulation onsite has helped inform the decision making process on where to place systems like stormwater ponds. Excessive water flow on-land can also lead to erosion. This systems calculated at a rate of 500 cells has shown that there is heavy water accumulation occuring in areas which lead down to the streams. The majority of this occurs through what was previously zoned by us as revegation areas. This buffer area will therefore assist not only in the filration of water leading to the estuary, but will also help mitigate the possibility of erosion.
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DESIGN CONCEPTS BIOPHILIC URBANISM PUHINUI LIVING CORRIDOR GEOMETRIC NATURE WALKABLE URBAN ECOLOGIES
Rachel Butler Carlos Charlton Timothy Richardson Zhou (Joe) Fan
BIOPHILIC URBANISM “A biophilic community is a place where the residents can easily get outside, where walking, strolling and meandering is permissable�
CONTENTS RATIONALE VIEW SHAFTS REVEGETATION PLANTING SCHEDULE STORMWATER SYSTEMS CIRCULATION IMPERVIOUS SURFACES MASTERPLAN 3D IMAGERY POSTER
Rationale My project will use the concept of “Biophilic Cities” as a base model for future urban development. Biophilic Cities integrate urban planning with nature, integrating compact urban form with green infrastructure. Key characteristics of a biophilic city are compact urban form with access to green infrastructure, dense urban blocks with an active street level frontage i.e retail beneath residential apartments., cycle and pedestrian friendly, visual and pedestrian access to nature I believe that through modelling the development to the biophilic concept will also help in maintaining the rural character of the site through large areas of public green space, retained agriculture activity, retention of existing shelter belts and patches of vegetation. “Cities are built in nature, with nature, through nature, yet so often appear to be external and opposed to nature” (Timothy Beatley, ‘Biophilic Cities’)
view shafts One particular point along the Green Corridor shows that it would provide expansive views across the estuary, around the volcanic crater and to the rural land adjoining the airport. Because of this I propose that the areas surrounding the chosen point remain undeveloped for residential or commercial activities. Instead this land will be utilised as public space, or for agriculture. Areas denoted in green are those that would be visible from this point (map on opposing page). The view shafts as shown below were based on other points whcih were designated along the original ‘Green Corridor’, as they showed little for both our selected site and the wider context these points were not incorporated so heavily into the final project .
REVEGETATION Protection of the environment was the priority for this design. Because of this the coast line was buffered by 50m on either side, with a 20m buffer on stream edges. Following analysis of the 90ha site, the landform with a slope over 8 degrees were zoned as areas for native revegetation, with the same then occuring for slopes with a South facing aspect. Following the zoning of housing/ commercial activity and roads the remaining spaces nearby the estuary buffer were allocated space for a transitional buffer. This creates an area which could be heavily utilised by pedestrians. The zone would be a meadow-like space being low-maintenence and allowing a second stage for water filtration before reaching the estuary. A concept like a wildflower meadow would provide residents with a strong connection to both flora and fauna which would also use the meadow as a habitat.
Planting Schedule The coastal and stream buffers will be planted with New Zealand native monocotyledons; sedges, rushes, grasses, reeds, flaxes and cabbage trees. This combination will be the same again for the stormwater treatment; being used in the wetland ponds, vegetated roadside swales and in raingardens. Wetland Plants: Carpodetus serratus (putaputaweta) Cordyline australis Cortaderia fulvida (toetoe) Cyperus ustulatus Juncus pallidus Phormium tenax Typha orientalis
Broadleaf: Beilschmiedia tarairi (taraire) Beilschmiedia tawa (tawa) Griselinia littoralis (kapuka) Dysoxylum spectabile (kohekohe) Conifer: Dacrycarpus dacrydiodes (kahikatea) Dacrycarpus cupressinum (rimu) Podocarpus totara (totara) Prumnopitys taxifolia (matai) Revegation of these zones will create habitats for native birds, bats, insects and lizards and will help contribute to the wider Auckland ecology. Shelterbelts:
create a habitat and food sources for bees and other insects. Street trees: Vitex lucens (puriri) Magnolia soulangiana (saucer magnolia) Cornus ‘Eddies White Wonder’ Knightea excelsa (rewarewa) Amenity Plants: Public park spaces will be intermittenly planted with groves of specimen trees. The combination will combine exotic and natives, deciduous and evergreen species. The trees will provide visual interest through either flowering or deciduous colours.
Revegetation: Steep slopes and south-facing aspects will be revegated using a combination of New Zealand native broadleaf and conifer evergreen tree species.
Myoproum laetum (ngaio) Pittosporum eugeniodes (lemonwood) Pittosporum tenuifolium Transitional buffer (meadow) A combination of self-seeding wildflowers, clover and lupins. This combination will
Acer palmatum (maple) Albizia julibrissen (silk tree) Alectryon excelsus (titoki) Betula utilis (silver birch) Corynocarpus lavevigatus (karaka) Metrosideros excelsa (pohutukawa) Sophora microphylla (kowhai)
Stormwater Systems Vegetated Swales
The Biophilic City water catchment is process operating like a chain. Water will be captured in vegetated swales which run alongside all roads, these lead to raingardens located in carparks and on the wider connecting roads. The overflow for these will lead into the stormwater ponds. A vegetation approach has been used to capture water as this increases water filtration into the ground while also removing contaminants from the water. Ideally the stormwater ponds will absorb all of the remaining water, though they will be designed with a final overflow into Manukau Harbour. Green roofs will be located on the higher-denisty residential buildings. This is to capture rainfall while also keeping the larger buildings cool
Rain gardens
Stormwater Ponds
The multi-layered approach to stormwater mitigation has been favoured with the view to dealing with contaminated stormwater as the result of urbanisation before it enters into the estuaries or Manukau Harbour. These systems act like a buffer to the harbour, similar to that proposed vegetation buffer surrounding the estuarine edge. A system of vegetated stormwater devices will slow down water flow, increase soil filtration and filter pollutants.
Circulation Concept of proposed Green Corridor
Pedestrian and cyclist acess is enabled across the site via a series of connecting 2m wide boardwalks. These intersect over the buffered estuary zones linking residential with commercial zones. All roads incorporate a 2m wide sidewalk for pedestrians and cyclists. The Green Corridor is a large permeable walking and cycling track designed to connect over the original 1100ha site. Through the selected 90ha zone it intersects with the estuary buffer and then travels across the main linear park, then intersecting Puhinui Road via a fully accessible bridge and ramp.
Concept of proposed cycle and pedestrian boardwalk
All roads onsite have dedicated pedestrian and cycle lanes. The roads are sloped from the centre of its width, with runoff then draining into vegetated swales on either side.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACES HIGH-DENSITY Terrace housing is formed in a combination of 2 or 3 houses per block, each block being 3 stories. Each house is expected to house 4/4.5 people. Carparking onsite is located on the ground level of each house, with further space available on the roadside. MEDIUM-DENSITY Detached 2 story houses. Expected 4-5 people per property. Parking and driveway on each property is constructed from permeable materials. MIXED USE 4 storey apartment blocks with lower two levels occupied by smallscale retail and hospitality. Each apartment is occupied by 4 people. Carparking for one car per family is provided underneath the block, with carparking at street level for the retail buildings. COMMERCIAL Maximum 4 storey blocks with parking available beneath buildings. This area is also home to the main bus station, meaing that access is readily available for those travelling from other subdivisions in Auckland, or those travelling from the airport. The estimated population total for this site is 1,600- 1,650 people.
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MASTERPLAN
Biophilia is the integration of urban planning with nature, improving how we connect ourselves with the natural environment.
Biophilic urbanism has been acheived through maintaining large spaces of agriculture and vegetation to maintain an atmosphere of being ‘rural’. Public space interspersed within the residential zone provides plentiful access for residents to nature. Community garden-lots located around the high-density zones strengthens the community atmosphere while helping to prevent the atmosphere from feeling to urban. The urban connection to nature has occured through combining dense residential and commercial blocks with large expanses of open space with tracts of mass vegetation to create a sense of the wilderness. This concept was developed from the Project 1 aim of creating a liveable city. Biophilic urbanism has meant that there is increased access to green spaces while producing a pedestrian friendly city.
3D IMAGES The grid shape has been retained from the previous desig, while the residential zone has been defined by the existing Prices Road.
Close-up of residential zone: Existing shelter belts have been kept, and public space has been allocated within easy access of residential zones.
THE PUHINUI LIVING CORRIDOR
TITLE PAGE CONTENT CONTRIBUTING FACTORS VIEWSHEDS PLAN RATIONALE CIRCULATION GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE - VEGETATION GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE - STORMWATER HARD INFRASTRUCTURE - RESIDENTIAL HARD INFRASTRUCTURE - COMMERCIAL ZONE LAYERS CROSS SECTIONS - 3D RENDERS
CONTENT
The affects of the sun and how it would be optimised throughout the site was a major contributor to the site.
This map was the major contributor to my design and development plans as it illustrates the affects and land features that are most vulnerable to erosion and human impact.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Overlooking Russell from Flag Point http://nzfrenzynorth.wordpress.com/c5/
The use of view sheds along with continuously considering the positing of the sun has affected the layout and design as to optimise the height restraints on the site.
VIEWSHEDS
PLAN
Summary The Puhinui Living Corridor has been design and inspired by the idea of planes flying in and out of the airport over the Puhinui district. Thus came the arrow pattern of a drawing the incoming people towards the airport visually and sending the outgoing flyers out into the open, vast horizon. This pattern has been developed and presented by street networks, tree lines and building positioning. The layout of the buildings located on site have been positioned in the linear pattern not only for the from air visual affects but also due to the effects of the sun. The sun was a major contributor. The desire to optimise sunlight is a continuous drive. This has been achieved by positioning the buildings so that they get morning sun through to evening sun. Some buildings will lose sun during the early mornings when people are at work but will make up for this during the evening when they have more sunlight access. The Green Link Corridor is a major draw card for this site as it is proposed to connect the entire Puhinui area. This is supported by the large amounts of green spaces and parks throughout the Puhinui site connected by streets and bush walk pathways. Public Transport The transport hub is located below the commercial centre of the Puhinui development. The is also smaller bus stations within the residential development that connects with the Puhinui transport hub and also transport hubs outside of the Puhinui district. The light rail link that travels through the Puhinui urban development links from Manakau through Puhinui to the airport station. Being light rail it will be quiet and fast to travel along the train link and the green corridor that surrounds the train line will be beneficial for noise as well as bringing an ecological atmosphere while travelling on the train. Sports fields and courts are located around the commercial and residential site to allow friendly access throughout.
RATIONALE
Road Networks The roads throughout the Puhinui development follow along the original concept design of the “Typology of a Living Corridor” concept. The road network has only major roads connecting to Puhinui road. These major roads do not have any small residential access to reduce congestion. Of these roads is a series of roads linking the residential neighbourhoods together. Bridges There are three bridges in places within this site that reduce the impact on the local stream networks and the terrain.
Residential Link Linking the residential, commercial and public spaces together other than the road network is a series of pathways that’s travel through the vegetated and park land allowing for nature lovers and just commuters to enjoy their walk.
CIRCULATION
Riparian planting will occur in the more sensitive areas. These areas are all buffered by vegetation zones. This buffer will help moderate any interference from outside creatures and weathering patterns. There is agricultural land situated on the western boarder of the site in brown to illustrate its land use type. There is a public green space link throughout the site with near all street corners meeting with a park or bush land.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE - VEGETATION
Storm Water Systems Swales and rain gardens on the majority of roads will filtrate and sourced all street runoff before it reaches the water catchment ponds. This will stop pollutants from entering any waterways or any vegetated areas. All waterways and steep slopes are a no build zone except for bridges and pathways which will in turn reduce damage to the fragile water ways and surrounding terrain.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE - STORMWATER
Residential There are shared and private driveways throughout the residential areas that are based off street. All apartment parking is located below the apartment complexes. High - There are 275 high residential houses which accommodate for an average of 3.5 people giving approximately 825 people within the high residential area. Medium ÂŹ- There are 32 medium residential houses which accommodate for an average of 5 people giving approximately 160 people within the medium residential area. Apartments - There are 48 high rise residential apartments which accommodate for an average of 3.5 people giving approximately 168 people within the high rise apartment area.
There is 25 hectares of land out of the 90 hectares of this site is covered in residential housing. The number of residents that is estimated to be able to reside on site is 1290 people. These 1290 people get spread out throughout 355 buildings ranging from high residential to apartments. This equates to 51.6 people per hectare.
HARD INFRASTRUCTURE - RESIDENTIAL
Commercial There are two types of commercial buildings at play within this site. The large factory buildings that are situated on roads back from the Green Corridor and the retail and hospitality based shops that open out onto the Green Corridor inviting people to interact and admire one another. There is a small complex of little shops at the north end of the high residential zone that will accommodate for small shops like a dairy, hair dresser, cafĂŠ, bar and takeaway style shops.
HARD INFRASTRUCTURE - COMMERCIAL
Residential and Commercial Buildings
Impervious surfaces
Green Spaces
Zone Layers
All layers combined givning an overall view of the site.
This cross section illustrates the size difference between the high residential and medium residential buildings.
CROSS SECTION This 3D cross section gives the visual affect that there is a dominant green corridor throughout this dense developed area.
3D RENDERS
GEOMETRIC NATURE
Tim Richardson
Rationale My project will use the concept of “Geometric nature� as a base model for future urban development. Geometric nature integrates urban planning with nature, combining compact urban form with green infrastructure. Key characteristics of the idea of geometric nature is creating large boulevards down the main roads, creating axis routes for residents and pedestrians to access main infrastructure sectors such as commercial/ retail areas and a large bus terminal. Mass revegetating of steep slopes that are not suitable for planting will create the sense of rural character in the site, giving residents a unique area to live in, rather than having a concrete dominated suburb. “
view SHED For my first view shed, I placed it where my proposed bus terminal will be located. This view shows how it is an ideal site for the bus terminal to be located, as it is located on flat land and can be viewed from the residential areas, as well as parts of the commercial sector. For the second view shed, the point is placed in a medium density area. This is an ideal area as it has views of the high density areas, as well as revegetated areas along the coast. 1
2
IMPERVIOUS SURFACES
My impervious surfaces on the proposed site includes all the main roads, terrace housing (orange colour), mixed use housing (light blue/ green colour) and retail/ commercial areas. My main design driver for my site was to create a grid like road system to create main axis roads from one place to another. I achieved this by placing large boulevards on the main roads which connected the terraced and mixed used housing areas with main infrastructure areas such as the commercial/ retail sector and the large bus terminal. By vegetating main roads, it gives the sense of importance and encourages people to explore those areas. The dimensions of my main roads will be 10.9 m wide. This will include a two lane carriageway a flush median lane and cycle lanes on either side of the road. The dimensions of my residential roads will be 12.9 m wide. This will include a two lane carriageway and parking on both sides.
GREEN SPACES One of the main drivers behind my design, was to create as many green areas as possible to keep the rural character of the site intact. Creating grass areas around residentail buildings softens out the dominant impervious surfaces. It also helps to absorb some of the run off water that has flowed off the roads. A large recreational park has been created next to the commercial area and bus terminal where residents can walk to from the suburbs using the green link path or by the large boulevards. The park is almost a barrier that splits the residential area from the large, noisey commercial/ retail areas.
REVEGETATED AREAS In steep areas of the site, as well as areas of land around these steep areas, I have decided to completely revegetate with native species. One of the main reasons I have done this, is to maintain the rural charcter of the site, but to also soften out the impervious surfaces and to create a small ecosystem that the residents can enjoy and embrace. Species in these revegtaed areas include Leptospermum scoparium (manuka), Carex testacea, Apodasmia similis (oi oi), Phormium tenax (new Zealand flax), Phormium cookianum (mountain flax), Libertia grandiflora, Hebe topiaria.
hydrology Along most of my impervious surfaces i have one metre swales that flow down to large catchment ponds that over time is filtered and flow back into the estuary. My swales will be planted up with water loving plants that will help filter out the toxins that will run off the roads, and prevent those toxins from getting into the estuary.
FINAL DESIGN This proposed 90 Ha housing development in Puhinui is a site that has a mixture of High density, terraced housing and medium density housing (mixed use urban). The terraced houses are each loacted on 200 m2 lots, whereas the medium density housing is located on 300 m2 lots. Overall this 90 ha area can house nearly 1000 people. (944 people) The site is focused on keeping the rural character intact by creating large green spaces around the housing areas and revegetating steep slopes and areas on the site that are unsuitable for building on. The idea of Geometric Nature comes from the large boulevards creating an axis along the main roads to connect the housing areas with significant infrastructure such as the commercial/ retail sectors and the large bus terminal.
PLANTING SCHEDULE Main boulevards Tilia cordata (small-leaved Lime) Residential boulevards Alectryon excelsus (titoki) Magnolia grandiflora (southern magnolia) Revegtated areas Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) Carex testacea Apodasmia similis (oi oi) Phormium tenax (new Zealand flax) Phormium cookianum (mountain flax) Libertia grandiflora Hebe topiaria
Perspectives 1.
2.
Walkable Urban Ecologies Zhou Fan
Rationale
Walkable urban ecologies mean that the area is pedestrian focused whilst keeping the local ecology of flora, fauna, waterways and human interations in the urban environment in mind. My main design drivers being walkability and connectivity, I have focused on creating pedestrian friendly neighbourhood that has easily accessible connection methods between nodes. The quality of the waterways on our site is currently subpar and I will aim to improve that with riparian planting, stormwater filtration, minimise impervious surfaces and green rooves on buildings.
VIEWSHEDS The viewsheds from four points on the site are, the main transport hub for when people arrive on the site, from the large green space, the community gardens and area between the high and medium density residential zones. The map on the right shows only the views shared by all four view points.
Connectivity All the main avenues have a footpath and cycle lane each way and one car lane each way to encourage pedestrians and cyclists and discourage driving. I have proposed a lightrail to connect Puhinui train station to the airport. This creates access for people taking the train from the Southern line as there currently is no easy way for people from the Southern suburbs of Auckland to reach the Airport by train. The Green link is a pedestrian walkway and cycleway that connects the Northern and Souther regions of our site. The green spaces in Puhinui are linked together by it. A bus circuit will drive around Puhinui on a regular basis to provide public transport for the locals to reach destinations that are not near enough to walk to and discourages driving. An offroad footpath/boardwalk is erected through the dense buffer zones around the stream to give pedestrians a experience of nature in the area.
HYDROLOGY The Pukaki-Waokauri Creek splits our site and is a major outlet out to the estuary. I have proposed swales linking all the houses together to drain excess run off into to either stormwater ponds or the wetlands on the edge of the riparian planting next to the streams.
Green spaces Accessible green spaces is important for the residents of the local area for recreation and general relaxation. There is a large green public space for general recreation between the high density residential zone and the commercial zone with the Green link right through the middle. Connected to that is another green space with sports fields. The site is dotted with informal recreational areas in the residual spaces between buildings.
Planting plan A 25m buffer zone around the Pukaki-Waokauri Creek to help improve water quality. Street trees have also been planted, as well as shelter belts. Revegetation plants: Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (Kahikatea) Vitex lucens(Puriri) Street trees: Alectryon excelsus (Titoki) Sophora microphylla (Kowhai) Shelterbelt trees: Pittosporum eugenioides (lemon wood)
Densities High density residential buildings: A variety of 3-storey apartment buildings with two 100m squared apartments per storey. This comes to around 18 people per apartment building and thus equates to around 2500 people living in the high residential dwellings in this area. Medium density residential buildings: A series of terraced housing in groups of three. Two storeys each, able to house four people per dwelling. This comes to around 9 people per terraced house, and thus equates to around 300 people living in the medium residential dwellings in this area. All the houses have green roofs with permeable pavings around the houses to provide parking.
Master plan
With the combination of all my design elements, I have come up with my master plan. With footpaths and cycle lanes on all the main avenues in my site to cater to pedestrians, because pedestrians make for a more social community. The riparian plantings around the streams along with stormwater ponds help to filter run-off from impervious surfaces. Bus stops around strategic locations bring residents to local destinations quickly and reliably. Green spaces allow relaxation and recreational facilities within easy access. A retail area will give residents outside the area a reason to come to shop in Puhinui. The commercial zone contains office buildings and warehouse facilities for airport storage.
perspectives