Oriental Bay Beach Development
Comment on evaluation and construction of the project
Improvements to the pavement
Construction near Freyberg Pool
With everything going on in Oriental Parade, the biggest challenge was to keep everyone satisfied before construction, during construction, then to capture the hearts of everyone following construction.
Gant charts were used to follow the big picture for spanning the 8-9 month period November/December 2002 through to July/August 2003.
The project was very construction related and the main thing was the coordination of the many facets within Oriental Bay – it's not just a beach project that's why the Wellington City Council has called it a “Foreshore Enhancement" project.
The Foreshore Enhancement project dealt with such things as:
- Electricity, drainage, sewage, stormwater, the natural coastal make-up and the sand itself.
Stormwater was discharged from the Oriental Bay residential area and its roads through approximately 20 outlets onto the beaches. Sewage is piped through an entirely separate system to Moa Point. The new beach design resulted in stormwater being discharged into the sea at just three locations that will avoid the sand being washed into the sea each time it rains.
- The footpath promenade. It's not just an average footpath, it's a 10 metre wide footpath so it's obviously a very important recreational facility.
The new work involved construction of a new kerb and channel, which improved drainage, provided for easier maintenance, and shifted the kerb away from the base of the Norfolk Island Pines. Sections of the footpath around the seafront were disrupted while the new stormwater pipes and street furniture were installed and the whole area resealed.
- The fixed coastal structures like the heritage items e.g., the sea wall, the Band Rotunda, the Norfolk Island pines which are protected trees.
- There are the broader recreational activities that “live" there e.g., Freyberg Pool, a point of interest in terms of people coming and going, and the smaller ones such as The Tugboat and various cafes etc. dotted around.
The Freyberg area will have a new changing and toilet facility, and double the existing grass area. A feature will be the 110metre long wooden pier with the amenity block and car park on the Freyberg pool side, and grass and sand area on the other side.
Freyberg Beach will be off-limits throughout the construction period, and during some stages, use of the foreshore area itself will be severely restricted so the work can be conducted as quickly and safely as possible.
Public access will be maintained where possible, with public areas and routes clearly marked.
- The traffic. There are 20,000 vehicles going around the Bay per day on average that had to be kept going both during and after construction.
Construction on the site was limited to 7.30am to 6.00pm on Monday to Saturday, with no work on Sundays and public holidays. During these hours, construction activities may not exceed specified noise levels so that residential amenity is maintained.
- Parking was also most important. The residents living across the road in very valuable properties wanted parking available, there were commuters and the pressures of coupon parking.
During the course of the project, parking – particularly on the seaward side of Oriental Bay – was at a premium. However, as a result of the project, 30 additional car parks are now provided around Oriental Bay.
Space in the Freyberg car park will be more efficiently used, providing about eight more car parks than before. The parking management regime will also be changed, removing the option of coupon parking so that its prime function is to accommodate pool users and people visiting Oriental Bay for recreation activities.
