Then and Now: Greenlane Road Environmental Impact Study (1973)

The 1973 Environmental Impact Report for Auckland's Greenlane Road was a noteworthy project in the evolution of the business; and marked the start of several enduring relationships. Looking back nearly 50 years, Frank Boffa reflects on its significance.

In 1973 Frank Boffa & Associates were invited to join a multi-disciplinary project team commissioned to prepare an Environmental Impact Report on the Auckland Regional Authority’s proposal to upgrade Green Lane Road between the Southern Motorway and Manukau Road.

While this section of road is not extensive, it traversed a highly sensitive area including Cornwall Park, one of the better known and cherished Auckland landmarks.

Not only was this one of the first Environmental Impact Reports carried out in New Zealand, it was also our first opportunity to work on a North Island project.

As landscape assessment was a relatively new area of work in the early 70’s, there were no available procedures or processes we could follow or adapt. Consequently, we did what we considered to be relevant and appropriate at that time and documented our assessment accordingly.

On reflection, our assessment conclusions today would have no doubt been the same as they were then, however, they would most likely have been expressed in a more robust and sophisticated manner.

With regard to the landscape and visual impact conclusions, our unequivocal 1973 conclusions were expressed in the following manner:

• The impact of the proposed vertical and horizontal alignment of Green Lane will have a disastrous effect on the environment. The proposal seriously affects every piece of landscape which is of any visual significance.
• The proposal is brutal and destructive and completely insensitive to the integrity of the landscape and surrounding environment. The implications of realignment will be felt physically beyond the proposed right-of-way.
• The proposed intrusion into Cornwall Park will completely alter the scale of the area and thus destroy its character.
• The proposal as stated will destroy a high quality environment and therefore the alignment as proposed should not be implemented.

The Green Lane project was also notable for several other reasons. Firstly, it was one of the first major projects where we engaged the services of a specialist ecological expert to assist us in determining the nature and extent of biological effects and in particular those related to vertical road alignment and associated water table issues. Professor Frank Newhook of Auckland University assisted us.

Secondly, during the course of the study we established a relationship with the then-Manager of the Cornwall Park Trust Board.

In the 1980’s Boffa Miskell were engaged by the Trust Board to prepare a Management Plan and subsequently a Master Plan for a section of the Park that had been used for a Second World War military hospital. Since the 1990’s, the Auckland office has continued to work with the Trust Board on a number of projects including the 100-Year Master Plan for the entire Park.