Auckland Council continues to progress its planning for the Wairau flood resilience project to restore part of AF Thomas Park to act as a flood storage wetland and reduce the risk of flooding for the wider Wairau area.
“The Auckland Anniversary floods in January 2023 had a devastating impact on Tāmaki Makaurau and many of those who were severely affected are still dealing with the impacts. Wairau was one of the hardest hit areas and tragically saw the loss of lives. This project, co-funded with central government, is about preventing a tragic situation like this from happening again,” says Barry Potter, Auckland Council Director Resilience and Infrastructure.
Today, Auckland Council met with North Shore Takapuna Golf Ltd. (Takapuna Golf Course), and the technical reference group they have been working with, to discuss its latest alternative option.
“We met with North Shore Takapuna Golf Ltd.’s and their technical reference group today and presented to them the final decision on the concept option that the council plans to implement,” says Barry Potter.
“We have assessed the alternative option of a diversion to Shoal Bay, engaged independent consultants to peer review our findings, and spoken with our iwi partners and agencies including the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. On the basis of these considerations, the council is progressing with the wetland and dry detention option it has previously signalled.
“We understand that this news is challenging to the golfing community and especially those in Takapuna.”
Mr Potter emphasises that the primary considerations have always been the protection of people, property and infrastructure, and to deliver a solution for the community that manages costs within the available budget.
“Our communities have made it clear that this work cannot be delayed – this is about saving lives, protecting homes and businesses, and strengthening Tāmaki Makaurau against flood risk,” says Mr Potter.
“With this in mind, there will be no further consideration given to alternative options. The concept phase is now complete, and our work continues to progress to the preliminary and detailed design phase.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How was the Shoal Bay diversion option assessed?
Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience department has reviewed the Shoal Bay diversion option, as have our design consultants, WSP NZ Limited. To ensure robust analysis, WSP’s report has also been peer reviewed by Tonkin & Taylor.
The assessment and subsequent peer review found that this is not a viable option to address flooding to the community due to construction risks, unaffordability, and an increased risk of downstream flooding.
The council also engaged with iwi partners and with the New Zealand Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi to seek their views on the alternative proposal. They were both unsupportive and the New Zealand Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi emphasised the increased risk to one of the country’s most important transport assets, State Highway 1.
Why is this alternative solution not viable?
It is expected to cost about $10-20 million more than the approved approach, it uses a pipe that would introduce the further risk of blockages, which could reduce the system's ability to prevent flooding during major storms.
Flood modelling indicates that it will increase the risk of flooding to important transport routes downstream. It would require complex and costly maintenance, which could pose safety risks to workers.
It could also cause environmental damage that might not obtain regulatory approval. The design depends on appropriate ground conditions, which have not been tested and are uncertain. If ground is less stable than expected, particularly under the motorway structure, the consequences could be serious and resulting in significant cost overruns.
How did the council reach a conclusion so quickly?
Auckland Council had already looked into alternative options, four of which involved diversion of flows to Shoal Bay.
Each included construction of a similar open channel as proposed in the latest alternative proposal. These diversion options were discounted due to significant consenting issues and high estimated costs.
However, the council undertook further analysis to review the proposed option to determine whether there are any notable differences or new considerations not previously assessed. Following this analysis, it was still found to be not viable.
How many options have been considered?
During 2024 and early 2025, over 100 flood mitigation options were assessed to develop the options assessment which was included in the business case endorsed in April by the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee.
The council also worked closely with North Shore Takapuna Golf Ltd. to complete a feasibility assessment of an alternate proposal put forward by them as the existing leaseholders of AF Thomas Park, alongside assessing the council’s own proposal.
A single design concept for stormwater detention came out of the feasibility assessment, one that allows for both flood resilience and recreation to coexist in one blue-green space – and is the one that the council is moving forward with.
What does this mean for sport and recreation?
How sport and recreation may be incorporated into the future use of the park is still to be determined. This will be decided by the Kaipātiki Local Board in consultation with the community, mana whenua, and advice from council staff.
Consultation with the wider community is planned for October-November this year to gather ideas and gain feedback into what potential recreational activities, including golf, could be accommodated in the green areas surrounding the new wetland in AF Thomas Park.
All users of AF Thomas Park, including schools and community groups, will be encouraged to have their say.
You can read more about how the council is balancing flood resilience with community recreation on OurAuckland.
How can I keep updated on the project?
You can find out more information about this project on the council’s website or you can reach out to the team at bluegreen@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
