Today, it’s not enough to just build large infrastructure projects, without thinking about how they impact on our future. We need to consider environmental sustainability as well as the visual, social, cultural and economic impact.
The Resource Management Act sets out obligations for sustainable management of the environment. It provides the opportunity for communities to say what needs to be protected and how.
Most large infrastructure projects will require resource consent and this involves talking to people who might be affected by the project, as well as considering Maori and Treaty obligations. There might be conditions put on a project to protect historic or cultural features or to address environmental issues such as water run-off, noise and visual impact.
Take the big ALPURT B2 project - that’s the realignment of the Albany to Puhoi road, north of Auckland. This crosses ecologically significant and environmentally sensitive areas and Transit New Zealand and the construction companies are committed to minimising the environmental impact of the motorway's construction and operation.
Considerable efforts have been made to achieve this. A 256 metre long bridge will cross native forest in Otanerua Valley to enable wildlife such as the fern bird to move freely underneath. Twin tunnels through Johnson’s hill will provide less visual impact on the bush covered hillside than one large tunnel. Culverts have been specially designed to allow fish to migrate and work is planned to restore and protect wildlife habitats. Around 1 million native trees will be planted as part of revegetation.
Transit has previously been awarded the Arthur Mead Award for environmental innovation and sustainable management for the Albany to Silverdale portion of the Northern Motorway extension.
The Resource Management Act sets out obligations for sustainable management of the environment. It provides the opportunity for communities to say what needs to be protected and how.
Most large infrastructure projects will require resource consent and this involves talking to people who might be affected by the project, as well as considering Maori and Treaty obligations. There might be conditions put on a project to protect historic or cultural features or to address environmental issues such as water run-off, noise and visual impact.
Take the big ALPURT B2 project - that’s the realignment of the Albany to Puhoi road, north of Auckland. This crosses ecologically significant and environmentally sensitive areas and Transit New Zealand and the construction companies are committed to minimising the environmental impact of the motorway's construction and operation.
Considerable efforts have been made to achieve this. A 256 metre long bridge will cross native forest in Otanerua Valley to enable wildlife such as the fern bird to move freely underneath. Twin tunnels through Johnson’s hill will provide less visual impact on the bush covered hillside than one large tunnel. Culverts have been specially designed to allow fish to migrate and work is planned to restore and protect wildlife habitats. Around 1 million native trees will be planted as part of revegetation.
Transit has previously been awarded the Arthur Mead Award for environmental innovation and sustainable management for the Albany to Silverdale portion of the Northern Motorway extension.
