One particularly positive takeaway from the New Zealand Infrastructure Investment Summit was that decision makers were on the same page with long-term delivery and maintenance, Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Alan Pollard says The Summit has been a welcome opportunity to discuss long-term investment in infrastructure, and a joint approach from decision makers gives the sector a reason to be optimistic for the future. Continue →

The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, which has been tasked with developing the National Infrastructure Plan, is asking for feedback on its current approach In a recently published discussion document, Testing our thinking: Developing an enduring National Infrastructure Plan, the Commission shares its initial thinking and seeks feedback as it develops the National Infrastructure Plan. Continue →

A 30-year National Infrastructure Plan and the establishment of a National Infrastructure Agency have been welcomed by infrastructure professionals The Government’s new National Infrastructure Agency will unlock access to more capital for infrastructure, while the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan will ensure greater stability of infrastructure priorities, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. Continue →

With climate change expected to make storms intensify over time, the Science Media Centre questioned experts on what we can do to prepare our regional infrastructure and at what point we need to consider relocation or managed retreat Professor Regan Potangaroa, Professor of Resilient and Sustainable Built Environment (Maori Engagement), Massey University: Rural communities have unique needs and challenges that must be considered when making decisions about infrastructure development. Continue →

The cul-de-sac is a suburban trap – virtually useless as a road, doesn’t support public transport, cycling or walking, and doesn’t work well as a play or gathering place, University of Auckland Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning Timothy Welch writes Its literal translation from the French is “bottom of a sack”—which sounds a lot less glamorous, you’ll agree. Continue →

As many traditional tenders are construct only, this can reduce opportunities to look at alternative methods or materials that reduce carbon emissions – this was not the case at Eastland Port Eastland Ports engaged McConnell Dowell in an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process to construct Wharf 7, a 240m structure that required upgrade to create a twin berth in Gisborne. Continue →

With New Zealand cities about to enter a period of rapid housing intensification, an international architect and urban planning specialist is calling for the reinstatement of a century-old government agency The position of Government Architect, which headed the Ministry of Works and Development’s architectural division, was first created in 1909 before being disestablished 20 years ago when the ministry was closed. Continue →

Infrastructure providers spend $1.29 billion annually obtaining resource consents, 70% of which is just consultant and legal fees, says New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Chief Executive Ross Copland The report by Sapere Research Group found that: of the estimated $1.29 billion each year spent on infrastructure consenting, nearly 70% is spent on consultants (planners, landscape architects, ecologists etc) and lawyers, on average, 5.5% of total project costs are spent on obtaining consent, for projects worth less than $200,000, consenting averages 16% of total cost, consenting costs have risen by 70% in the last seven years, the time taken to get a consent decision nearly doubled within a recent five-year period. Continue →

The inability or unwillingness to build the infrastructure needed to support and settle people in the community suggests a return to pre-pandemic rates of immigration are unsustainable, says the Productivity Commission The Productivity Commission released the preliminary findings and recommendations from its immigration inquiry this month. Continue →

High priority, high impact changes to planning systems could deliver up to $5.7 billion a year in economic value and 39,200 jobs, finds a new report prepared by Urbis for the Property Council of Australia While state and territory governments have been making some progress on planning reform, embedded inefficiencies and uncertainty in planning systems continues to stifle new investment and growth in residential housing supply and growth. Continue →

The infrastructure industry has just gone through a blizzard of policy change, with five key bills landing in the final two weeks of the current parliamentary term The Government’s Urban Growth Agenda was designed to address the fundamentals of land supply, development capacity and enabling infrastructure. Continue →

The Waimakariri District Council’s innovative approach to earthquake recovery planning has been declared world-leading, with the project taking top honours in the 2019 Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) Awards The Council’s Draft Waimakariri Residential Red Recovery Plan was recently named overall winner for Outstanding Planning Achievement in the Commonwealth. Continue →