Article written by: Arno Louw – Senior Civil Engineer

Vitruvius was engaged as part of a Design and Build collaboration with Holmes and HEB to deliver the mechanical design for a 9 megalitre Porirua High Level Reservoir No. 2. This project plays a critical role in supporting water infrastructure for growth, resilience and operational efficiency for the region.

Our scope included the mechanical design of the valve chamber to the reservoir systems, ensuring robust and efficient operation under varying conditions. In addition, Vitruvius developed the automation framework and functional descriptions to enable seamless integration of control systems, providing reliability and ease of operation for the client.

A key complexity addressed in the design was the seismic resilience requirement. The mechanical design incorporated flexible overflow pipework and seismic jointing to accommodate >500 mm axial and lateral movements under Ultimate Limit State (ULS) conditions. This was achieved through careful consideration of seismic couplers and flexible pipework.

Article written by Matthew Stuart – Service Leader – Rail Engineering

The Lower North Island Integrated Mobility Project (LNIRIM) is a major investment programme aimed at improving freight and passenger rail performance, safety, and operational resilience across the lower North Island. The Yards Package forms a critical component of the programme, supporting the introduction of the new fleet of Tuhono Battery Electrical Multiple Units (BEMUs) to allow for increased stabling capacity, charging, maintenance, and futureproofing of rail yard infrastructure.

Vitruvius and Beca are engaged to support the planning, design development, and technical assurance of the Masterton and Palmerston Noth rail yards within the LNIRIM programme. Working with several major stakeholders, including, KiwiRail, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Masterton District Council, Palmerston North District Council, Alstom and Transdev to name a few.

The purpose of our engagement is to provide specialist rail and civil engineering design expertise and provide solutions to complex upgrades of existing rail yards requiring coordinated multidiscipline design. The project involves interfaces with third party landowners, a new maintenance depot D&C Contractor, council assets, GWRC leased land and integration with an existing freight yard and signalling upgrades.

Through the optioneering and detailed design stages, we are tasked with ensuring solutions are:

• Operationally robust
• Compliant with KiwiRail standards
• Practical to construct and stage
• Aligned with programme budget and delivery constraints.

Our exceptional team are delivering the track, civil and geotechnical design, integrated with signal designs and working with our stakeholders to ensure seamless integration with all design, delivery, maintenance and operational requirements. We are excited to work with Beca to showcase excellence in the digital delivery space and ensure this complex multidiscipline design is integrated into one federated model accessible to all stakeholders.

Our team of specialists bring a depth of experience working in live rail yards and other complex operational environments, combined with a strong, practical understanding of KiwiRail standards and assurance processes. Our integrated approach, bringing together civil, track, and constructability considerations, enables us to develop solutions that are not only technically robust, but practical to deliver. This, together with our pragmatic, solutions focused mindset, meant we are well placed to support the yards package and add value throughout the design and delivery process.

The LNIRIM yards package reflects Vitruvius’ role as a trusted rail partner, adding value through integrated design, early risk management, and solutions that support network performance, safety, and long term resilience of the Wellington Metro.

Article written by: Albert Ho – Service Leader – Civil and Water Engineering

This project demonstrates how corridor-level planning can align renewal programmes and improve delivery efficiency in complex urban environments.

Vitruvius undertook corridor-scale assessments across Beach Haven, Onewa Road and Browns Bay Road to align Healthy Waters’ stormwater renewal priorities with Auckland Transport’s FY25/26 road rehabilitation programme. The objective was to identify stormwater renewals, operational issues and treatment opportunities that could be delivered concurrently with planned road works, supporting a coordinated “dig once” approach.

These corridors are high-traffic, community-sensitive environments with constrained working space, dense utilities and limited access. Asset condition, operational performance, flooding behaviour and capacity constraints were assessed using an integrated evidence base combining asset inspections, modelling outputs, service requests (RFS), condition data and operational insight.

The technical review was undertaken alongside engagement with Healthy Waters Operations, Planning, Design and Delivery, Asset Management teams and maintenance partners to validate findings, confirm constructability constraints and address data gaps. Technical and operational inputs informed prioritisation of interventions, balancing resilience and risk reduction objectives with budget availability and programme timing considerations, while supporting long-term network performance.

Assessments were completed within a six-week timeframe to align with Auckland Transport’s renewal programme. Coordinated planning enabled integration of stormwater and road works, minimising disruption to residents, businesses and road users, avoiding unnecessary re-excavation, and reducing duplicate traffic management across programmes.

If you are looking to better align renewal programmes, optimise investment or reduce community disruption in complex urban environments, our team would welcome a conversation. Please get in touch via our website: https://vitruvius.co.nz/contact/ 

Figure 1 – Opportunity at Onewa Road to coordinate asset renewal and water quality improvement with road works

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.

Article written by Albert Ho – Service Leader – Civil & Water Engineering

The Lillington Emergency Response project for Auckland Council, Healthy Waters puts Vitruvius on the map of the Auckland Water sector. The high priority project, with stakeholders reaching as high as the Auckland Mayor, was entrusted to us based on our relationship with KiwiRail, engineering expertise and commitment to respond. The project addresses the risk of disruption to Auckland’s busiest train line, as a result of a stormwater pipe collapse.

This project showcases Vitruvius’ ability to pull Healthy Waters and KiwiRail together in a rapid, collaborative response to cross sector/discipline risk.  Overall, Vitruvius facilitated contributions from three major public infrastructure organisations, including NZTA Waka Kotahi, and multiple contractor entities, towards a swift and pragmatic solution in mitigating the risks presented in this high-profile project.

A 400mm brick culvert, built in 1946 and spanning 20m, lies beneath the Auckland Rail Network Southern Line and shoulder of the SH1 Southern Motorway, about 500m north of the Greenlane roundabout. The brick pipe asset was deformed, and likely the cause of rail ballast soft spots and sleeper movement directly above. Risk of pipe collapse was mitigated with slip-lining of the old brick asset with a 225mm uPVC pipe, secured with grouting to reinstate the structural integrity of the asset.

The final project outcome is a de-risked stormwater asset that functions as designed, with its lifecycle increased by an additional 50+ years, and the above rail network operating at its full capacity without limitations. The project was completed with praise from the highest level at Healthy Waters. This milestone project showcases Vitruvius’ ability to bridge disciplines and sectors, demonstrating our commitment to Auckland’s critical infrastructure, and further strengthens the relationship with our strategic key clients.

Article written by Sam Riddell – Project Delivery Manager

Vitruvius was engaged by Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) to help them deliver a Bio-Filtration Pond designed to service the additional stormwater runoff generated by a new 100 lot development in Ōmokoroa. This project, funded through development contribution fees, played a crucial role in enabling residential growth while safeguarding the quality of stormwater runoff and protecting the receiving streams and catchments.

Vitruvius was engaged to perform a peer review of the design and work in with the incumbent designers to finalise it. This was a tricky design as this is the largest bio-filtration pond in New Zealand, so the design required scaling up a typically smaller system. When up sizing these sorts of systems to a much larger scale, there are some concerns around ensuring its effectiveness. Stormwater360, whose product it was, provided ongoing monitoring and support to ensure it effectively treated the stormwater.

The project site required significant preparation before construction could begin. Due to soft native soils, enabling works included clearing the land and preloading it for six months. Vitruvius facilitated this by procuring a contractor through closed tender invite. The submissions were then provided to WBOPC with recommendations. Once the contractor was engaged, Vitruvius managed the construction of the pre-load phase on behalf of WBOPDC.

Following the completion of the final design and the preload period, Vitruvius facilitated the procurement process for the pond construction works. This was put out to open tender on the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) where Vitruvius was part of the tender evaluation team. During construction of the pond, Vitruvius served role as the Engineers Representative. As the first bio-filtration pond of this scale, the construction required innovative problem-solving and close collaboration among all stakeholders, however Vitruvius was able to facilitate a great team culture and all parties actively worked together for the best interest of the project.  The result was a successfully delivered project that exceeded expectations.

Article written by Karly Shields – Senior Civil Engineer

The Gisborne District Council (GDC) have an ongoing programme to renew ageing and at risk asbestos cement watermains across Gisborne City. Vitruvius was engaged to deliver detailed design services for the programme for the 2025 financial year, and again for the 2026 financial year.

Vitruvius provided project management, early contractor involvement, Safety in Design input, 3D modelling, detailed design drawings, connection details, and tender documentation to support delivery of the works. Designs were developed in close alignment with the GDC Engineering Code of Practice, while also incorporating practical improvements to improve durability and simplify future maintenance. These recommendations were well received and adopted by Council.

A key strength of the project was Vitruvius’ local presence in Gisborne. Having a locally based team member enabled strong day to day communication with GDC, timely responses to design queries, and effective coordination with Council staff and contractors. This local knowledge and accessibility helped streamline decision making and maintain programme momentum.

Vitruvius have delivered consistent, high quality drawing packages, allowing GDC to meet fiscal year deadlines and progress confidently toward construction. Safety in Design principles were embedded throughout the design process to improve constructability, reduce on site risks, and support efficient installation during construction.

During the current financial year, experience from the previous year and collaboration with GDC has allowed the team to improve consistency across drawing packages, reduce turnaround times, and maintain a high standard of deliverables.

This programme demonstrates Vitruvius’ ability to provide practical, locally informed engineering solutions and to work in partnership with Council to deliver reliable, future focused water infrastructure outcomes.

Creating resilience within communities

Small jobs making big impacts.

Sometimes the smallest things can get forgotten about, and that’s often the case with stormwater. Its big siblings’ potable water and wastewater get a lot of attention and that’s understandable. If your tap didn’t turn on or your toilet didn’t flush, you would be telling everyone you could so it could get fixed right away! -But a puddle on your driveway, or flooding on your lawn – it’s annoying, but not the end of the world, you know it will eventually go away. With climate change making rain events become more extreme and frequent we are noticing more and more of this nuisance flooding occurring.

We have been working alongside Tauranga City Council on their stormwater renewals programme. This programme of works looks to identify stormwater assets that are not performing as intended. This could be due to the pipe being undersized, or old and in poor condition leading to pipe failure and blockages.

An assessment of the available data is undertaken, future investigation sometimes recommended, and the best solution put forward for implementation.

The first renewal off the line has recently been completed in Gobray Crescent – this was approximately 170m of new 375mm and 450mm diameter concrete pipe, replacing the existing undersized and in poor condition pipe. The new pipe is designed with climate change rainfall events in mind – and as concrete has a 100year life span we want to maximise the usefulness of the new pipe from both a functionality perspective and a sustainability perspective.

The next project is Grove Ave with construction of 122m of new 375mm and 300mm diameter concrete pipe and increased capacity catchpit inlets going to kick of November 2023.

Designs for several others are also currently away with a few of them hopefully fulfilling the option to daylight some pipes into green space allow a natural system to better manage the stormwater while mimicking the original natural environment.

Stormwater is often looked at as the ‘poorer cousin’ in the 3 Waters family and historically has not had the focus or investment it has deserved. In recent times, effects from urban intensification and climate change have become more noticeable through frequent and larger flooding events and the decline in quality of our waterways. This is further exacerbated by the fact that a large proportion of stormwater assets within Tauranga are near the end of their design life and are at risk of failing, as well as falling significantly behind current performance standards. As a result, Tauranga City Council (TCC) are ramping up it’s investment in the renewal of stormwater assets.

Vitruvius have been assisting TCC in the investigation, assessment, and prioritisation to renew existing stormwater assets, based on condition assessments and network criticality. TCC have identified a number of existing assets that are at risk of failure through a city-wide CCTV investigation programme. Vitruvius were involved in the initial screening of these assets and provided a more in-depth assessment for each asset to answer questions such as “Is the condition really as poor as first thought?”, “When is this asset likely to fail?” and “What are the consequences of it failing?”.  As well as the pipe condition, the performance of the pipe was also assessed to answer further questions such as “How under capacity is this pipe?” and “What does the size of the pipe need to be to meet future climate and development demands?”.  Options were then considered to “do nothing”, repair or upgrade – with the design, constructability and general project risks being taken into account.

With this key information we were able to grade the condition and performance for each asset, assign a risk rating as well as cost to undertake the works. This enabled each asset to be compared objectively and allow TCC to determine what assets need to be prioritised, and where the opportunities are to integrate with wider TCC future or planned upgrades.

This work is to form the basis of a future renewals programme that ensures a targeted and planned upgrade of stormwater assets, medium to long term budget certainty, a pipeline of work for Contractors, and a smoother transition into the new Water Entity B.