| 17 T T Kim Newth New civic space for Ponsonby Auckland Council: Te Rimutahi - Cassidy DEVELOPMENT UNDERSTAND YOUR UNDERGROUND. LOCATE@REVEAL.NZ 0800 240 340 UTILITY LOCATING UTILITY SURVEYING CHAMBER INVESTIGATIONS 3D SCANNING Reveal cuts project time and cost by eliminating underground risk Reveal is a global leader in subsurface utility engineering, combining innovation with deep expertise in underground utility detection, data collection, and processing. With o ices across New Zealand and internationally, Reveal specialises in accurately locating and mapping the unseen infrastructure beneath our feet. In the construction and civil engineering industry, undocumented utilities represent a signi icant risk for site workers. By locating these unknown utilities Reveal improves e iciency, reduces projects overruns, and prevents high cost and potentially deadly utility strikes. Reveal’s Auckland team are proud to have recently provided their services to a special project in Ponsonby: Te Rimutahi, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, where Cassidy Construction has been busy transforming what was formerly a drab commercial site into a beautiful public space for the community. Before they started work on site, Cassidy Construction’s team needed to understand what was under the existing concrete and asphalt surface. “They didn’t have any service plans,” explains Jannie Lombaard, Reveal Utility Surveyor. “On a site like that, there could be anything from old sewer pipes, water pipes or stormwater pipes to electrical cables. These are seen as live until proven that they are abandoned. Cassidy Construction didn’t want to run the risk of a utility strike. At the very least, such a strike will delay construction and be inancially expensive.” Jannie and fellow utility surveyor Ella Tra ord used Electromagnetic locating technology to detect underground cables as well as ground penetrating radar to reveal subsurface features. “Ground Penetrating Radar will show that something is there without necessarily identifying it, but it means we can rapidly identify and mark out where potential hazards are for further investigation. This saves a lot of time and helps manage risk. We can pick up voids or holes in the ground too – places where the soil has washed away.” On this particular project, a total of ive undocumented utilities and services were identi ied that were not on any existing plans or records, saving stakeholders time, money and mitigating risk of unmapped utilities. Reveal has a long-standing working relationship with Cassidy Construction to provide specialist subsurface mapping services. The two companies continue to work closely together. “It has been quite exciting for us to learn more about this latest development as it has progressed - we’re proud to have been a part of the project team.” With a completely nationwide team, supported by regional hubs, Reveal delivers high quality and high value coverage across New Zealand. With over 14 years’ experience Reveal has been involved in many national infrastructure projects and provides critical insights to most of NZ’s Asset Owners. CONTACT Reveal to understand your underground E: locate@reveal.nz T: 0800 240 340 M: 021 449 282 www.reveal.nz Ponsonby will soon be celebrating the opening of Te Rimutahi, their beautiful, multi-functional civic space. This long-awaited new urban oasis at 254 Ponsonby Road, has been designed to provide a common and accessible space for rest, relaxation and recreation. Previously home to a car park and commercial liquor business, the transformed site is now coming alive as a green and welcoming haven for the community. It includes a public square, an urban canopy providing shelter and an all-weather area for community events, a green discovery space, a pergola structure with long bench seating and planter boxes, toilet facilities and community gardens. Sustainability elements include solar panels (on the canopy roof), water reuse (with rainwater captured from the canopy roof to be reused for irrigation) and waste minimisation. The landscaped space features gorgeous planter boxes, green living walls, garden beds, and native trees like rimu and pohutakawa. Following the official opening on 3rd May 3, the local community is excited to begin exploring and enjoying their new urban green space. “The design was developed in consultation with the Waitematā Local Board, community-led design group, local businesses and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in response to a need for more public open space in Ponsonby,” says Martin Wong, Auckland Council’s area operations manager Waitematā and Ōrākei. “Te Rimutahi answers that need by giving the people of Ponsonby dedicated civic space to meet and gather. It is exactly what the community has been seeking.” Waitematā Local Board chair Genevieve Sage agrees, saying: “It’s cause for celebration that this long-awaited public space is ready for the community to enjoy. We’re looking forward to seeing Te Rimutahi come alive with locals as well as people who work and go to school in the area.” The new centre is the result of a 10-year process of community engagement.has now reached In 2017, the community picked an inspiring concept design – Park+ by LandLAB – as their preferred option. This design went on to win several New Zealand and world architectural awards. LandLAB was then formally appointed as the project’s design studio. Cassidy Construction, which has a strong track record in the local area, was selected to deliver the final design on site. The name for the new civic space, Te Rimutahi, was generously gifted by mana whenua in December 2024. “Design elements representing mana whenua narratives are integral to this entire project,” says Martin. The transformed site includes a public square, an urban canopy providing shelter and an all-weather area for community events.
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