As part of the process to vest the 10.7 hectares of land at Te Onekiritea (Bomb Point) to Auckland Council, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities (formerly HLC) is to undertake an extensive land remediation programme of work, commencing 2 June 2020.
In order to complete this work safely and efficiently, the entire reserve area at Bomb Point will be closed for the duration of the process, which is expected to take at least eight weeks.
The land remediation work will include removal of metal and building materials that have historically been buried in the area, including any asbestos. Previous tests have identified metal material buried throughout Bomb Point. Given Bomb Point’s former role as a New Zealand Defence Force site, Kāinga Ora will be working with NZDF to identify, excavate and appropriately dispose of any military-related items the programme of work may find.
“As with all significant land remediation and excavation work, it’s important that we undertake this process with the appropriate levels of safety,” says Kāinga Ora Deputy Chief Executive of Urban Development Delivery, Caroline McDowall.
“Due to the nature of this work, we have made the decision to close off Bomb Point from all public access. We understand that this will have some impact on the community who enjoy this wonderful amenity, and our priority is to complete this work as quickly and safely as possible to reopen the reserve for residents and visitors.”
McDowall says the timing has been scheduled to ensure that work is well underway as soon as possible, so that Bomb Point is well-placed to reopen to the community in time for the warmer months. The closure of Bomb Point also includes the off-leash dog park, and an alternative temporary enclosure for off-leash exercise has been set up nearby, accessible via Harrier Point Park.
The land remediation work is being undertaken by Piritahi, Kāinga Ora’s alliance partner which is also responsible for delivering new and upgraded infrastructure and amenity in Kāinga Ora’s large-scale developments throughout Auckland. The programme of work also includes removing any remaining contaminants left in the ground, including construction materials that were historically buried, like asbestos and reinforcing steel.
“We have the opportunity to ensure that the land at Bomb Point remains a valuable and lasting amenity for Hobsonville Point,” McDowall says.
The current expected timeframe of work is eight weeks, and Kāinga Ora will continue to keep residents informed of the progress.