Waikato
Providing Necessary Ecosystems
The Project
Rotokauri Greenway is proposed as a vibrant 4.7km ecological corridor connecting Lake Waiwhakareke and Lake Rotokauri just northeast of Hamilton.
The corridor will provide a necessary ecosystem for optimal stormwater management, open space for wildlife migration, and an active transport network. The Greenway will include a fluvial system of designated flow pathways including swales, artificial wetlands and ponds, with extensive planting of indigenous species along the length of the corridor.
Technical Solutions
Instrumental in propelling this project forward, WGA provided hydrogeological support to the fast-track resource consent process.
In order to construct the fluvial system, dewatering of groundwater will be needed on a temporary basis for the safe operation of excavators. In addition, the swale will induce additional groundwater baseflow compared to the existing drainage network. To assess the drawdown effects of the proposed swale drainage works on nearby natural wetlands, lakes and bores, WGA carried out groundwater modelling utilising cross-section models initially developed for geotechnical assessments. The Greenway aims to enhance and increase the natural movement of groundwater through the swale corridors and into Lake Rotokauri compared to the existing drainage system.
The project will also include installing or constructing a three waters infrastructure (for example, a water main, a wastewater pipeline, and a pump station), an arterial road approximately 1.26 km long (including an underpass that crosses under State Highway 1C); and a collector road (including an underpass) that connects to the arterial road.
Client Focus
WGA is working closely with a diverse team of experts including ecologists, geotechnical specialists, planners, stormwater modellers and civil engineers to deliver a living, breathing and functional corridor which will allow for a range of opportunities including ecological restoration, water runoff treatment, recreational activities and reinstating cultural connections.
The project is being managed by a local land developer and Hamilton City Council, with multiple reviewers involved in the project including Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and other hydrogeological consultants.