Te Ara Tukutuku Preparing for a winter pause

28 July 2025

Wynyard Quarter
News
Sustainability
Urban regeneration
Development
Mana Whenua

Progress on enabling (earth) works has been tracking well at Te Ara Tukutuku.

A key focus has been to begin the creation of a clay capping layer and perimeter bunds to manage rainfall.

We have worked closely with our Auckland Council whānau on a sustainable way to source the material, and more than 9,000m³ of clean clay, removed as part of a project to construct the new Paerata Station carpark in South Auckland, has already delivered to site — that’s around 600 truckloads.

The earthworks season for most projects typically runs from October to April, so we’ve been fortunate to enjoy an extended run thanks to favourable weather conditions. However, as we head into the wetter months, work will slow down to give the whenua (land) a rest while we wait for better weather.

To help protect what’s already been achieved, the newly formed bunds have been carefully covered with protective fabric. This helps preserve their structure, and importantly their function of stopping run off throughout the winter period.

Rainfall affects how the soil can be moved and placed, so while the crew wraps up current enabling (earth) works for the season, the site will enter a planned pause.

During this time some ponding may be apparent as water collects across the area. This is completely expected and nothing to worry about — the final capping layer hasn’t been placed yet, which allows water to collect temporarily.

In the meantime, stormwater continues to be carefully managed. Sediment ponds on site can treat up to 60,000 litres of water per day, and a specialist filter will add an extra protection, ensuring clean water flows safely into the harbour.

And while things may be slowing down on site, behind the scenes, momentum is building. Work on the next phase, the developed design, is well underway setting the stage for the transformation ahead.

Once the sun returns, so will we! We are hoping to start back as early as September.

We are working hard to continue bringing this incredible new space to life.

Learn more 👉here.