HEB Construction’s innovative and sustainable approach during the delivery of the Te Whau Pathway Project is shaping the future of Auckland’s infrastructure.
The Te Whau Pathway Project is an ambitious infrastructure development that aims to link communities from Auckland’s centre to the south‑western suburbs along the Te Whau River corridor. The pathway is more than just an infrastructure project; it’s a forward-thinking solution that promotes sustainability and environmental protection, offers local residents safer and more sustainable transport options, and stimulates the local economy.
Te Whau Pathway is a multi-partnership project funded by the government, with Auckland Council and HEB Construction leading the delivery, and liaising closely with the Te Whau Pathway Environment Trust. The first section of the proposed 12-kilometre walking and cycling path is on track to be delivered by 2026, since recommencing construction at the end of 2023. Once fully delivered, it will connect Manukau Harbour at Green Bay to Waitemata Harbour on the Te Atatu Peninsula.
A key element of the project is its focus on environmental stewardship, as the pathway runs through some of Auckland’s most biodiverse regions, including wetlands, rivers and native ecosystems. As such, it was key that the delivery was hyper‑aware of the landscape during the construction phase.
‘Auckland Council chose HEB to deliver this project because we developed innovative construction methods during tender to minimise impacts on the sensitive marine environment,’ says Amy O’Donnell, HEB Construction Project Manager for the Te Whau Pathway’s delivery. ‘I developed these further during the early contractor involvement phase and detailed design, helping to create a bespoke methodology that is the first of its kind to be used in Aotearoa.
‘Our build-over-the-top approach minimises mangrove removal to 5400 square metres – far less than the 15,300 square metres originally approved,’ O’Donnell says. ‘Access also required a haul road, which I designed to limit environmental impact and enable repurposing. Tracking on mud and rock risked sediment and oil spilling directly into the river, so we built and elevated a haul road using locally sourced sand, geogrid, geotextile cloth, and granular fill. Once the structure was complete, we returned the sand to the quarry and repurposed aggregate for various other Auckland Council projects in West Auckland.’
According to O’Donnell, construction waste often results from design errors, so preventing costly mistakes (and looking after the environment) is important. O’Donnell taught herself to create 3D models from 2D drawings, proving just how valuable digital engineering is when it comes to projects of all sizes.
‘By overlaying the ground profile from geographical information systems and survey as-builts, I planned around key elements, identifying and mitigating ground clashes early … This early scrutiny meant we could realign the design to avoid these sensitive areas, eliminating delays later in delivery.’
O’Donnell’s model paid off. Building on its success, she developed a paperless Autodesk Construction Cloud platform that equips engineers with iPads for digital quality assurance – reducing paper waste and accelerating quality assurance processes.
Alongside this, repurposing materials has also been a great way to engage with the local community during the delivery of the pathway.
‘We’ve used leftover timber and pallets to build garden beds for a local school,’ says O’Donnell. ‘Instead of discarding pile offcuts, we transformed them into benches and public art. This initiative aligns with the goal of creating accessible, community-focused spaces, while reducing construction waste.
‘This long-term view supports ongoing positive community engagement, which helps secure future opportunities,’ O’Donnell says. ‘The community sees the value of the works and the completed Te Whau Pathway, and their enthusiasm and support continue to grow as construction progresses.’