rules of engagement

With substantial east-to-west cross-falls on site, much of the site needed to be re-graded to provide a workable platform for the building and car parks.

Civil engineers Hicks Bros managed the large cut and fill operation, ensuring that all the excavated soil was used on site to minimise disruption and waste.

The company also constructed the site's three main walls, including one retaining wall, says Peter Andrews.

"One wall retains the cut along an approach road. Another forms a major part of the sub-grade foundations, and a third is a batted and planted bank that retains the car park to the west," he says.

"The main environmental issue was controlling the amount of sediment that left the site or entered the stormwater drains. We used a number of mitigation techniques such as silt ponds, silt fences, clearwater drains and overflow areas."

During phase two of construction, Hicks Bros installed the secondary drainage systems, stabilised the subgrade, laid around 7km of kerbing, prepared the basecourse for the roads and car parks and constructed the underground car park.

For more information, contact Hicks Bros Civil Construction, PO Box 146, Silverdale, Auckland, phone (09) 426 3470, fax (09) 426 9309. Website: www.hickbros.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas