Source: Auckland Council
Today marks a major milestone in Auckland’s flood recovery programme, with the official groundbreaking of the first flood resilience (blue-green) projects under Auckland Council’s Making Space for Water programme.
The two Māngere projects, including replacing a busy bridge and lifting New Zealand’s largest sewerage pipe, will significantly reduce flood risk for hundreds of homes in neighbourhoods surrounding the Te Ararata Stream and Harania Creek. Some of these homes have a serious risk to life from flooding.
The projects are the first under the council’s 10-year Making Space for Water programme and were the first to be funded as part of a $2-billion co-funding agreement with local and central government following the severe weather events in early 2023.
The area was blessed at dawn by mana whenua representatives from Te Ākitai Waiohua and supported by Ngāti Tamaoho and Te Ahiwaru, with Mayor Wayne Brown officially breaking ground, alongside local Member of Parliament Lemauga Lydia Sosene, Ward Councillors and members of the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.
Mayor Wayne Brown and local iwi at sod turning ceremony in Mangere.
“Māngere was one of the hardest hit communities when Tāmaki Makaurau experienced its worst rainfall on record in 2023, and the community has shown incredible resilience during some difficult times,” says Mayor Brown.
“It’s fitting that the first blue-green projects delivered under the council’s Making Space for Water programme are right here in Māngere.
“Fixing Auckland’s infrastructure and making the most of our environment were among my key policies and why I supported this programme, and the commitment of budget to get projects like these done quickly, to ensure a positive outcome for the local community.”
Mana whenua acknowledged the importance of restoring the mauri (life force) of local waterways, ensuring they can continue to sustain and support both people and the environment.
Manukau ward councillors Alf Filipaina and Lotu Fuli celebrated this milestones and acknowledged the importance of the council working with central government with strong community support to accelerate the progress of these projects, including the Order in Council.
“Community backing for an Order in Council was absolutely crucial in getting these projects approved and shovel-ready in record time. I also want to acknowledge the role that council staff, especially the Healthy Waters and Recovery Office teams, played in getting us to this point and all their hard work and dedication. Our communities were one of the hardest hit during the severe weather in 2023 and these projects will increase flood resilience for hundreds of properties – it’s certainly something to celebrate,” says Cr Filipaina.
“This is about more than just managing the flow of water – these projects are about building healthier and more resilient communities for people to live. This work is about reducing an intolerable risk to life and supporting our Māngere communities through some challenging conversations. It was great to acknowledge this milestone for the wider regional programme with more flood resilience projects to come,” says Cr Fuli.
Working with the community
A Stakeholder Advisory Group, made up of key community organisations and locals, has been serving as a bridge between the council and the broader community, ensuring that local knowledge is contributed, and broader outcomes are considered.
“These projects are a great example of how Auckland Council and communities can collaborate to create outcomes that benefit everyone,” said Toni Helleur, CEO of I Am Māngere.
“In addition to the flood resilience outcomes we’re also delivering social outcomes for South Auckland. Heb, the contractor for the Te Ararata project have employed seven people into full-time employment through council’s Nga Puna Pukenga Skills for Industry programme.
Project details
Work in both catchment areas will address key blockage points so that in extreme storms rainwater can flow more easily out into the Manukau Harbour.
In Te Ararata, the Walmsley Road bridge will be upgraded to increase water flow beneath it and a debris trap will be installed to reduce potential blockages upstream. A permanent maintenance platform and accessway to the Mahunga Drive culverts will also be built to enable quicker and easier access for maintenance crews.
In Harania, the embankment between Blake and Bicknell roads will be removed and replaced with a pedestrian bridge and a pipe bridge for the Eastern Interceptor, which carries roughly 70 per cent of Auckland’s wastewater from Okahu Bay to Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Harania Stream part of the Making Space for Water projects.
These improvements will enable the waterways around Blake Road Reserve to flow more freely and lessen the likelihood of flooding in the future. Construction on the projects will start later this month, with completion expected in mid-2026.
Planning and prioritisation for future projects
Many communities were heavily impacted by the severe weather events of early 2023. Further areas across Tāmaki Makaurau continue to be assessed and prioritised for future blue-green works.
You can find out more information about these projects on the council’s website or you can reach out to the team at bluegreen@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
