Auckland Council has completed a feasibility study of two proposals looking to restore part of AF Thomas Park to a flood storage wetland, while keeping the much-loved green space available for Aucklanders to use when the park is not flooded.
It says the confirmed design concept allows for both flood resilience and recreation to coexist in one blue-green space, including potentially golf.
The Council says the progress will be welcome news to the community in one of the areas hardest hit by the 2023 storms and with flooding seen again earlier this year.
“It’s great to reach this milestone so we can move forward as quickly as possible to address flooding in the Wairau catchment and the protection of lives and properties,” says Auckland Council General Manager, Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience, Craig Mcilroy.
“We heard from the community that they wanted us to move swiftly and decisively while protecting the recreational greenspace they love. This design concept achieves both and we can now progress this important work.”
The project aims to significantly reduce downstream flood flow through Wairau Creek, reducing flood risk to over 250 homes and three residential care homes in Milford. It will also protect critical infrastructure and access to key facilities such as North Shore Hospital and Westlake Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools, as well as Eventfinda Stadium.
The work in AF Thomas Park is a critical first step in reducing the significant flood risk across the Wairau catchment and will enable wider flood resilience works in and around Nile Road, and the commercial areas of Wairau Valley, the Council said.
Council staff evaluated more than 100 flood mitigation options, with the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee endorsing a business case in April to integrate flood storage with recreational facilities at AF Thomas Park.
At the same April meeting, the committee requested that the proposed concept be reviewed alongside an alternate proposal put forward by the existing leaseholders of AF Thomas Park, Takapuna Golf Course. The alternate proposal explores if an 18-hole golf course can be retained on the land while providing the same level of flood storage.
“The council has worked closely with Takapuna Golf Course to complete a feasibility assessment of the two proposals. An eight-step technical review ensured both options were evaluated fairly for feasibility, cost-effectiveness as well as addressing environmental considerations,” says Auckland Council’s Head of Sustainable Partnerships (Healthy Waters & Flood Resilience), Tom Mansell.
The golf club’s initial proposal, creating a large number of smaller stormwater storage ponds throughout the park, was soon found to be unfeasible due to cost and maintenance requirements. The Council granted the golf course a one-month extension to provide an alternate option. A subsequent design was submitted by the golf club which is a very similar approach, both in land formation and stormwater detention, to the Auckland Council design.
“Both the council proposal and the golf course’s revised proposal have similarities in terms of placement and the method of storing stormwater on the site. We’re confident in the single design concept that’s come out of the feasibility assessment and are ready to move this project forward for our communities,” said Mr Mansell.
The Wairau flood resilience project is part of the $760 million Making Space for Water programme – a critical response to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events in Auckland. It aims to build smarter, more resilient infrastructure to help protect homes, schools, businesses and infrastructure from future flooding while enhancing green spaces for community use.
Making Space for Water is co-funded with Central Government, with the Government to provide 62% of the project costs for the Council proposal.
While the confirmed design concept could allow for a 9-hole golf course and a driving range on the site, how golf may be incorporated into the future use of the park is still to be determined, says Council. This will be decided by the Kaipātiki Local Board in consultation with the community, mana whenua, and advice from council staff. Any additional costs for sport or recreation come at a cost and are currently unfunded and would be subject to Long-term Plan and alternate budget availability.
Additionally, a Community Advisory Group has been established for the project, with representatives from local community groups, rōpū Māori, schools, and the local board to provide ongoing input and help guide decisions that reflect local needs and aspirations.
Consultation with the wider community is planned for later this year to gather ideas and gain feedback into what potential recreational activities could be accommodated in the green areas surrounding the new wetland in AF Thomas Park. All users of AF Thomas Park, local and from further afield, will be encouraged to have their say, the Council said.
