Tonkin & Taylor's award winning project - Seaside Park - is featured in the September/October 2006 issue of e.nz magazine, published by IPENZ.

Seaside Park is an amazing, four-year transformation of a contaminated landfill into a wildlife haven in Otahuhu, south of Auckland, which has really given residents something to smile about!  Although the area has always been known as Seaside Park, now it really lives up to expectations befitting of its name!

Pictured : The Award Winning Seaside Park in Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand.

T&T's innovative design included a human-made reef and protective rock barrier, superb wetlands area, an emphasis on water quality within the estuary, wildlife refuge, viewing mounds which allow residents a 360-degree view of the area, newly planted flora, walking tracks, recreational playing fields and a new stormwater retention basin. The wildlife refuge area protects bird species and other wildlife, such as native skinks, from predators and gives them an undisturbed home.

Public consultation highlighted the key issues for residents. Auckland City Council engaged T&T to transform the unsightly landfill and surrounding area into what has now become a source of local pride. Not only does Seaside Park provide a major benefit for residents, it also provides native birds and other wildlife with habitat expansion and protection.

Mr Michael McQuillan, Auckland City’s Environmental & Utility Manager commented recently that the “project is an environmental showpiece for creative and innovative techniques in the rehabilitation and transformation of closed landfills.”

T&T's Managing Director, Peter Millar, believes the monumental transformation of the Brady Road site is an excellent example of how T&T worked successfully with Auckland City Council and the community to come up with a viable solution that has long-term benefits for all.

Seaside Park has been extremely successful in winning a number of prestigious awards, including the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Arthur Mead Memorial Environmental Premier Award, the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) Project Award and most recently the Ministry for the Environment Green Ribbon Award for Urban Sustainability in June 2006.

For more information about Seaside Park please contact Arthur Amputch or Pip Hair.