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31 July 2023 |
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Aerial view of tree felling progress near East Coast Road and Ara Wēiti Road. July Construction UpdatesWhangaparāoa Road We have been undertaking work to confirm the location of underground services and underlying ground conditions. This includes geotechnical testing, drilling a borehole, hydro-excavation to locate underground services at the driveway entrance to the shopping precinct, and relocating machinery on Whangaparāoa Road. The team continue preparation works required for the start of main construction works in October, including:
Stillwater Due to recent wet ground conditions work to clear the pine trees west of Stillwater was stopped and will start when ground conditions improve. Preparation continues for the construction of a temporary staging platform to be constructed for the future Wēiti River Bridge. Material for the staging platform will be trucked into site with piling expected to start late August/early September. Ara Wēiti Road In this area, we are felling trees on the southbound and northbound sides of State Highway 1 as well as on a section of Ara Wēiti Road. The successful relocation of overhead powerlines and connection of the new underground network will allow the construction of the new southbound onramp. The relocation also enabled them to safely fell the trees within the area. Work has started on the construction of the new project office, with some staff already temporarily working on site.
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Upcoming Community Drop-In SessionsCome along to one of our community drop-in sessions to meet the team and learn more about the project.
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Click on the image above to watch a video on testing a sediment retention pond. Caring for our Environment: Sediment Control DevicesProtecting and caring for the environment is a project priority. We are committed to environmental stewardship and take our impact on local flora and fauna seriously. One of the ways we do this is through responsible erosion and sediment control. Erosion and sediment control devices prvoide an important solution to protect the area. Some of the devices we use are sediment retention ponds and decanting earth bunds. We currently have 17 of these control devices across two construction sites. In addition to these, we use diversion bunds and channels, silt fences, drop out pits, sediment treatment tanks, stabilised construction site entrance ways and wheel washes. We also focus on minimising open areas to reduce erosion and are constantly stabilising bare earth. To do this we use hay, grass, aggregate and sometimes cloth. In the video above, we are testing a sediment retention pond. When it rains, runoff flows into the pond. Then it mixes with a flocculant to speed up settlement of sediment particles. It then flows into the pond where further settlement occurs. Afterwards, it discharges out the decanting system which skims the cleaner water off the surface of the pond. Retained sediment can then be properly managed by our environmental team. We make sure to sample water during and after rain events to check the pond is working efficiently. Click here to watch the video about testing a sediment retention pond and learn more. |
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Photos from top to bottom: Ahutoetoe School students stand next to a painted shed, graduate engineers on Duck Creek Road site, and Whangaparāoa College students watch a project presentation. Engaging Students Across the CoastThis month, we have been connecting and collaborating with graduates and students from different schools. Through this, we aim to inspire the next generation of workers and infrastructure enthusiasts. A group of graduate engineers from HEB recently visited our construction sites. This gave them an idea of what it takes to build a significant piece of infrastructure like O Mahurangi - Penlink. They gained insights into the project's scale and complexity. They also learned about the challenges and rewards of a project like this. We also visited Whangaparāoa College to present to a group of Years 11-13 physics and engineering students. The presentation was well attended with over 50 students present. We had project engineers come along from disciplines such as:
The project engineers told them what they do on the project and how they got where they are today. They informed the students about a diverse range of career opportunities available. There was time for questions and answers as well, with many students interested in learning more. Lastly, we had students from Ahutoetoe School visit our site and take part in a creative activity. The students had the opportunity to paint floc sheds based on themes of kauri trees and wildlife of the Wēiti River. The sheds are for erosion and sediment control across site, so keep an eye out if you pass our site. This not only provided a creative outlet for them but also allowed them to contribute to environmental preservation. Their artworks are amazing and we are very grateful to our local Resene, who donated paint supplies to support this activity. We hope to encourage young minds to explore careers in engineering and construction. We are also happy to involve the community in sustainable initiatives to foster a sense of pride in the environment. If you would like to collaborate on a similar event, please reach out to us at omahurangi@nzta.govt.nz. |
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Click on the image above to watch the video about road worker safety. Look After Road WorkersWe recognise traffic management may be a source of frustration as delays, detours, and slower speeds can disrupt daily routines and cause inconvenience. We aim to minimise the impact of construction by implementing efficient traffic management as much as possible. We prioritise our road workers safety and wellbeing and expect our community to as well. This means respecting work zones, following instructions, and adhering to speed limits. By doing so, we help create a safer environment for everyone involved. It's important to remember that road workers are people with whānau/friends and family, and lives outside of mahi/work. Unfortunately, instances of abuse towards our staff are not uncommon. Verbal harassment, aggressive driving, or running red lights not only endanger road workers and other road users but also contribute to a hostile work environment and is unacceptable. Please remember road workers are not responsible for the inconvenience caused by construction projects. You have the power to positively impact the experiences of road workers by:
Be sure to click here or on the video above to watch more on road worker safety. If you have questions or feedback on our traffic management, please email us at omahurangi@nzta.govt.nz. |
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One of our Kaitiaki, Eddie, celebrating Matariki with her whānau and work colleagues. Ngā mihi o te tau hou Māori | The best of wishes for the Māori new year
Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki On Friday 14th July we celebrated – along with the rest of Aoteroa – the Māori New Year, or Matariki. Matariki is a public holiday in Aotearoa New Zealand but it is much more than a day off mahi/work. We asked one of our project Kaitiaki, Eddie, what Matariki means for her and how she will be spending her time. “Matariki for me is all about new beginnings and fresh starts, it’s a time to reflect on the year and implement new goals for the year to come.” “For Matariki I celebrated with the onsite staff at O Mahurangi by sharing Kai, and on the day of Matariki I attended a Matariki event called Te Hokinga Mahara which is collection of memories by an artist from the tribe Ngati Manuhiri which will consist of light and sound shows. I also spent time with my sister and friends, shared memories, kai, and made goals for the upcoming year so that we are able to reflect on them at the next Matariki.” Matariki is a small cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. In Aotearoa New Zealand it comes into view low on the north-eastern horizon, in the tail of the Milky Way, just before midwinter. This heralds the Māori New Year and the changing of the seasons. The appearance of Matariki brings a time of remembrance, joy and peace. It’s a time for communities to come together and celebrate. Iwi celebrate Matariki at different times, some when the cluster is first seen in the dawn sky, others after the full moon rises or at the beginning of the next new moon. For some iwi, the star cluster includes seven stars, while for others it has nine. For all iwi, the importance of Matariki is expressed through proverbs and songs linking it with the bright star Whanui (Vega). |
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If viewing in your browser, right click and "open image in new tab" to view a larger version of the O Mahurangi - Penlink timeline. If in email application, zoom in using their controls. History of O Mahurangi - PenlinkThe need for a new connection to the Whangaparāoa Peninsula has a long history. In the 1980s, the idea was first formally identified for a Wēiti Crossing or a bridge across the Wēiti River connecting Stillwater to Whangaparāoa. Rodney District Council decided a new access corridor from East Coast Road to Whangaparāoa Peninsula was the best option. This would address both transport and future land-use needs. The idea for the corridor became known as ‘Penlink’ (shortened from Peninsula Link). A scheme design and work to protect the land corridor for O Mahurangi – Penlink followed. The designation, construction and operational resource consents were approved in 2001. The designation allowed for the construction and operation of the two-lane road and the ability to buy the land required. The council was unable to secure funding despite the transport need for the project. View the designation plans here on our website or by using Auckland Council GeoMaps. Auckland Transport took on the project following the Supercity amalgamation in 2010. In the 2010s, there was significant engagement with a range of partners, stakeholders and property owners. In 2014, the application was lodged to alter and re-consent as a four-lane road. In 2015, the decision was issued. This provided a wider four-lane highway and Shared Use Path (SUP) between Whangaparāoa Road and Duck Creek Road. In 2019, Auckland Transport undertook a Detailed Business Case (DBC). The DBC found that a two-lane road would provide greater value for money and improve accessibility and connectivity more than a four lane road. In January 2020, the Government announced the project as a NZ Upgrade Programme initiative. They appointed Waka Kotahi as the delivery agent for the project. In June 2021, the Government confirmed funding for the full delivery of the project. In June 2022, HEB, Fulton Hogan, Aurecon and Tonkin + Taylor gathered with Waka Kotahi to sign an agreement. The group became the O Mahurangi Alliance. At the alliance signing ceremony, Mana Whenua gifted the name O Mahurangi to the project. The two-lane road began early works in January 2023. In May 2023, the Minister of Transport announced O Mahurangi - Penlink would be tolled. In October 2023, main works will begin. |
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Map of Mahurangi-Mangawhai Old Land Claims and Crown Purchases Claims produced for the Waitangi Tribunal. What's in a Name?"Mōkau ki runga Tāmaki ki raro Mangatoatoa ki waenganui Pare Waikato, Pare Hauraki Te Kaokaoroa ō Pātetere Me te nehenehenui" In 2021, the project was gifted the name O Mahurangi. Mahurangi was an ancestress of Tainui waka and was a renowned tohunga (high priestess). Mahurangi gave karakia to the Atua for guidance and protection of her people. They were journeying from their ancient homelands of Hawaiki to Tāmaki, Aotearoa and the lands known today as Whangaparāoa. Rangatira, Te Warena Taua, gifted the name O Mahurangi to the new transport project which runs from Whangaparāoa to Paeroaroa (Redvale). The name, in his words, is an ancient name belonging to the rohe (district or tribal boundary) of Ngāti Manuhiri, Te Kawerau ā Maki and Tainui whānui as the descendants of the eponymous ancestor Maki from whom the name Tā Maki comes. The 1841 Crown Purchase describes the Mahurangi area as the North Shore of the Waitematā in the south, to Te Arai Point in the north, and west to the Kaipara watershed. Today the Kaipara watershed is known as Riverhead. There were further Crown acquisitions up to 1881 which extended the Mahurangi block to Mangawhai. This continues to be recognised today. The project is framed by the rivers of Wēiti and Ōkura, the maunga Pukekauere, and the bay of Karepiro including Ōtaimaro and Te Ringa Kaha ā Manu. These rivers speak to the history of the descendants of Maki and his people. |
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For more information on the O Mahurangi - Penlink project, contact us on 0800 PENLINK (0800 7365 465) or at omahurangi@nzta.govt.nz Visit our website: www.nzta.govt.nz/penlink |
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