Providing flood protection for local businesses
Richmond’s town centre is a key commercial hub so when severe flooding hit, upgrading the main street’s stormwater infrastructure became a priority.
Our experts’ innovative design lowered Queen Street’s crown, creating a continuous central slot drain to direct water away from buildings and overcome safety issues. It also meant a complete overhaul for the street: an improvement to streetscape character and amenity, an opportunity to upgrade the associated infrastructure, enable futureproofing, and improve its useability, safety and functionality.
To minimize disruption, we created a moving 100–150 metre ‘construction box’ allowing the contractor access to the street while project and historical information, surfaces for children to decorate, and viewing windows adorned its hoardings.
Safety was a critical outcome, particularly with an ageing population, so we talked to disability, elderly and blind groups, and schools and emergency services. The result? Wider footpaths, a buffer strip between cars and people, slower traffic speeds, enhanced planting with ornate pear and titoki trees and power outlets to charge mobility scooters.
Queen Street is now safe, pedestrian friendly, modern and vibrant. And most importantly, it’s resilient.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- Tasman District Council
- Partners
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- Downer
- Award
- Best Street in New Zealand, Keep NZ Beautiful Awards, 2018
Kirstie Thorpe, Senior Principal Landscape Architect & Urban Design/Team Lead, Landscape & Urban Design
I weave threads of landscape together and incorporate their values into infrastructure projects.
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