Auckland, like many large cities around the world, is growing at an unprecedented rate reflecting the current global surge in urbanisation. In response to this phenomenon, an expansion of the urban boundaries of the city was required to create a new regional development area. 

 

In 2002, the legacy Council proposed a Metropolitan Urban Limit (MUL) shift in the north west of Auckland to provide for a $3B development. This development was to achieve sustainable growth outcomes balancing social, environmental and cultural objectives with sustainable economic development to lift the productivity of Auckland City in accordance with its Regional Growth Strategy. 

 

Within this development, new infrastructure, industry, housing, community facilities and green space were considered high priorities for the sustainable growth of the wider city. Synergine worked with the Council to expand the MUL by providing strategic advice regarding infrastructure solutions and then facilitated the transition of this development from its conceptual planning phase to its implementation and development phase. Synergine provided Programme Leadership for nearly a decade to lead the multi-disciplinary workstreams and consultant teams to enable the integrated delivery of Council infrastructure with parallel private development to achieve the successful transformation of the area.

 

The broad dynamics of the stakeholder groups created a level of complexity in facilitating the successful planning and delivery of the project. Achieving collaboration between all parties was a pivotal aspect to the success of the project. The identification and implementation of a clear decision-making framework allowed these parties to explore unified solutions that maintained individual identity, integrity and expectations of those they represented. Cultural input from local iwi helped to shape the narrative and design of the development as key aspects of the tradition and history of the area were included in the design and translated into built infrastructure. This dedicated and comprehensive consultation and engagement was essential in order to generate a cultural depth and wider narrative to the development, including practical opportunities for iwi involvement that added a richness to the design outcomes.

 

Key to the development’s success has been the liveability and public realm opportunities it provides for the future community to connect, both with one another and with the surrounding environment in a meaningful way. An understanding of human centric design principles and a desire for the Open Space to balance these with ecological restoration to create new public reserves, urban connections, and strong landscape amenity, led to a green corridor of riparian planting, shared pathways, a playground, skatepark and open grassed areas.

​

In recognition of the “excellence in project management of large scale, complex infrastructure delivery” Synergine received an award of appreciation from the Mayor and CEO for extraordinary effort.

​

Synergine received the Certificate of Merit at the 2018 NEXT Summit for its stakeholder engagement on the project.