Article written by: Merci Martin – Civil Engineer and Albert Ho – Service Leader – Civil and Water Engineering
The Making Space for Water (MS4W) programme is Auckland Council’s response to the extreme storms of early 2023, which led to local and national emergencies, claimed six lives and forced the evacuation of over 7,000 homes. Unprecedented rainfall overwhelmed the stormwater network, leaving many unprepared for the resulting floods.
As part of MS4W, Vitruvius is proud to partner with Healthy Waters to deliver the Overland Flow Path Management (OLFP) initiative, one of seven key projects aimed at improving Auckland’s resilience to heavy rainfall and extreme weather events.
This initiative focuses on ensuring overland flow paths function effectively to reduce flood risks. The work is carried out at both a catchment level (capital works) and an individual property scale, helping water flow safely through neighbourhoods and minimising damage to homes and infrastructure.
Key components of the initiative include:
- Field assessments and a new app to identify and report blockages.
- Community engagement to educate residents on their responsibilities.
- Compliance measures to ensure overland flow paths remain clear and effective.
Both Merci and Albert from Vitruvius are providing the day-to-day project management expertise with Vitruvius also presenting an on the ground assessment team playing a vital role in shaping a flood resilient Tāmaki Makaurau. We’re proud to support this work, which will shape how the city manages stormwater now and into the future.
Photo from left to right Daniel Cho – Civil Engineer, Merci Martin – Civil Engineer, Marc Porter – Civil Engineer, Matthew Sheppard – Senior Civil Engineer, and William Wang – Senior Project Engineer.