Taurarua Judges Bay, Stormwater Management and Low Impact Design

Taurarua Judges Bay is an urban park located in Judges Bay, Parnell, close to Auckland CBD with views of the Bay, Tamaki Drive, Auckland Harbour and Rangitoto Island.

The upgrade of the park and beach front of the Bay was a project run by Auckland Council Parks Department with the design undertaken in a collaborative approach utilising the skills of a variety of consultants. The key aims of the project were to create a high quality park which has multiple uses including an all tides swimming spot and a quality leisure destination. It incorporates interpretive representation of a rich cultural and natural history to celebrate this “Inner City Jewel”.

Water Quality was a key driving force for the success of the Judges Bay project both for an all-tides swimming destination and ongoing ecological values of the Bay.

The design of the upgrade of the stormwater network incorporated low impact elements and sustainability values for treatment of the stormwater from the catchment prior to discharge to the bay. This design process also included the integration of sustainability values with respect to the cultural, social, physical and natural elements. These elements were incorporated into the project as the building blocks to the stormwater design process.

The consultants’ aim for the project was to provide a sustainable outcome for the bay and surrounding parkland that was understood and embraced by the long term owner, Auckland Council, and users of the stormwater management system.

This paper will outline the project from design through to construction and finish with the feedback from the public with respect to the utilisation of the park.