Cambridge Bypass
An infrastructure ecosystem
The Cambridge Bypass, part of the Waikato Expressway, is the largest Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Authority project in the history of the Waikato region. The four-lane highway runs from the Bombay Hills to just south of Cambridge, significantly reducing the travel time between Auckland and Hamilton and has led to greater road safety and significant economic gains for the region. We worked together with HEB Landscapes and Jasmax Landscape design on a bypass to stop and be admired well, that is, if it wasn’t so well designed for you to efficiently whizz on by.
Ecosystem: Roading meets river meets bats
With this project one of the first hurdles was how to tackle the infested and degraded gully ecosystems that crossed with, and connected to, the highway. Although in poor ecological condition some of these gullies are home to the native long tailed bat. Another key ecosystem dynamic we had to consider was water. Stormwater runoff from the expressway is potentially toxic to its receiving environment – ultimately to Waikato Te Awa (the Waikato River) which is a tupuna (ancestor), a taonga (treasure), and the mauri (life force) of Tainui Waka and Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
We asked ourselves:
How can we improve the environmental ecology surrounding the expressway after putting a road through the countryside?
How can we best work shoulder-to-shoulder with the local iwi?
How can we improve the ecological habitat for the local fauna including the native long tailed bat?
In doing all of this, how might we set standards of excellence in expressway construction?
Ecovitalism: Ecology and the economy working side by side
At Kauri Park we always think in terms of the ecology economy because we know that when nature works hand-in-hand with humanity we can both thrive. In preparing the Cambridge Bypass landscaping we had to consider how our plants would interact, over time, with the man-made environment, the water systems surrounding it and the wildlife that we wanted to survive and thrive.
The answer was eco-sourcing. We nurtured 350,000 native plant, a total of over 70 different species, from seed that that we knew would contribute to this complex ecosystem. We replanted in species that will enhance the area and provide a home for the bats – including species such as Kahikatea, Totara, Matai, Kowhai, Rewarewa, Mahoe, Cabbage trees, Karamu, Kanuka, Manuka, Kohuhu, and some English oak trees. Embankments were planted in ground cover coprosma species, flaxes, Carex grasses, Kanuka, Manuka, Karamu, Cabbage trees, Akeake, Pigeonwood, Kawakawa, and Ngaio. Wetlands have been planted in Oioi, Schoenoplectus, Baumea, Wiwi and Carex.
Kauri Park worked alongside HEB to involve the local iwi in planting a substantial number of plants in the Karapiro Gully and across the riparian flood plains.
There were plenty of complex factors along the way – from inclement weather affecting site works, to short notice changes to daily/weekly plans due to civil works being completed late or early and the juggling of multiple communication channels between design, planning, construction and site works.
The final result: an expressway with large tracts of revegetation plantings on the embankments, swale drains, lake verges and other areas of ecological significance. The plantings are well established, thriving and beautifying the natural landscape and providing a home for our nocturnal friends, our native bats.
This key strategic transport corridor for the Waikato region has brought significant economic gains in a way that ecologically sound and sustainable. The ecology economy is alive and well in the Waikato.
“Kauri Park played an instrumental role in the success of this project. Our communications, whether with Management, Dispatch or Delivery Drivers were always warm and friendly and our specific delivery requirements were well labelled and accurately counted. This, along with early deliveries, allowed fast and efficient unloading, and good production from our planting team”
