Te Ara Tupua
Te Ara Tupua is the project to create a walking and cycling link and improve transport resilience between Wellington and Lower Hutt. It will deliver a safe, connected and resilient route, enabling more people to walk or bike, and connect with local paths in both Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
For Waka Kotahi to build Te Ara Tupua, consent conditions require improvements to the marine habitat and water quality to restore the diverse marine life in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington's harbour). As a result, work has commenced to begin to build 54 engineered reef "pyramids" as part of the reef enhancement work to help restore the diverse marine life under the Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One (Ngauranga to Petone) section of Te Ara Tupua.
Drawing of reef structure from sea floor.
The video below shows the construction an placement of each concrete pyramid - four metres long, four metres wide, and five metres tall, weighing approximately 22 tonnes, and sitting 7-10 metres below sea level. The pyramids will encourage the growth of plant life, algae, shellfish, snails, and kina.
Within the first few years there will be an increase in common fish populations with algae, kelp, and invertebrates also occupying the surface of the units. Benefits will be seen up the food chain—an increased abundance of fish will increase availability of food for seabirds and other species in the area.
Working with iwi mana whenua Taranaki Whānui, this reef will be the first of its kind and of this scale for biodiversity compensation purposes in New Zealand.
About the project
Waka Kotahi is partnering with iwi mana whenua (Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa) and local Councils (Wellington City, Greater Wellington and Hutt City) to provide a new walking and cycling route between Wellington and Lower Hutt. Te Ara Tupua will also connect with other walking and cycling facilities such as the Petone Esplanade and the Hutt River Trail.
Waka Kotahi is leading delivery of two sections:
And working with partners on key connecting projects:
This article is shared from the Waka Kotahi website.