Woods have undertaken preliminary studies and costing masterplans for the wider development as part of the initial stages of the industrial and residential development. These will lead into the earthworks and civil design following the completion of the plan change process. 

Woods Involvement 

Ōhinewai - Sleepyhead Estate Development, 2018 - present
The Sleepyhead Estate is a mixed-use masterplanned community located on a site adjacent to the Waikato Expressway (Stage Highway 1) and the North Island Main Trunk Rail Line.

The developer, Ambury Properties Ltd (APL) are the property holding associate of the New Zealand Comfort Group (NZCG). APL purchased the 178 Ha property on the corner of Lumsden Road and Tahuna Road, Ohinewai which was rezoned from Rural in the operative Waikato District Plans a mixture of industrial and residential zones as part of the Waikato District Plan hearing earlier this year.

Feasibility Study, 2018 - 2019
Woods undertook a high level feasibility assessment to determine whether the site could be developed into industrial and residential land and what would be required in order to achieve this. 

Stormwater and Flooding Assessments, 2019 - present  
As part of a three-waters assessment of the wider catchment and its flooding challenges, Woods have been involved with stormwater planning and flooding assessment at Ōhinewai, between Te Kauwhata and Huntly in the Waikato region. 

The development site, which sits in the River Waikato flood plain, discharges to a degraded lake environment. Woods completed assessment of effects in terms of flood displacement and peak flows, and produced comprehensive reports working in close collaboration with the Waikato Regional Council and Waikato District Council. Woods then developed acceptable solutions using appropriate Stormwater management approaches and flood models incorporating key assumptions and decisions on climate change, stop-bank breach and existing River Waikato Land Drainage Scheme operated by Waikato Regional Council.  

An evaluation of the risks associated with a failure of stop banks along River Waikato was undertaken, including operational issues with the Lower Waikato Zone Management Plan particularly relating to the control gate operations. This assessment has influenced the design of the development, and supported the rezoning submission to the Proposed Waikato District Plan to enable the development of the Sleepyhead  Estate at Ōhinewai.  

Woods also completed the Stormwater Management Plan and Flood Assessment Report that formed part of the Assessment of Environmental Effects, and Section 32AA Assessment provided to the Hearings Panel in December 2019. The team also conducted rainfall analysis to assess the impact on lake levels and associated storage from the development and wider catchment taking into account different climate change considerations and observed flood events (River Waikato Land Drainage Scheme). 

Plan Change, 2019 - Present
Woods provided reporting and evidence on the plan change to the District Council Hearing Panel in relation to stormwater management, flooding, and civil design/earthworks matters. The outcomes from consultation with technical representatives from multiple submitters (including Waikato Regional Council, Waikato District Council, Mercury Energy, and Fish and Game) were also incorporated to inform the final decision by the hearing panel. 

The outcome of the work undertaken by Woods resulted in the hearing panel recommending a positive outcome for the Plan Change to be granted, with engagement currently taking place during the appeals process. 

Bulk Earthworks
Woods have been engaged by APL to provide civil engineering services to the bulk earthworks phase of this project and have coordinated the works as engineer to the contract. 

The first season of earthworks (Earthworks 1 Phase 1) is nearly completed with the second season (Earthworks 1 Phase 2) about to be issued for tender. 

In relation to bulk earthworks, Woods have: 
- Provided design drawings, reports and calculations for Resource Consent
- Provided detailed engineering design, reports and calculations for specific components that required Engineering Plan Approval
- Ran the contractor procurement process, including procurement reporting, preparing documents, drawings, & specifications for tender, tender analysis, tender recommendation
- Provided construction observation and contract administration including issue of contract documents and construction drawings, review of construction management plans, weekly site meetings, processing of payment claims, construction observation to Engineering NZ CM3 levels, review of contractor “notice to engineer’s” and issue of contract instructions. 

Health & Safety
Woods have provided health & safety consulting services to APL for the Sleepyhead Estate project including: 
- Formation of the Health & Safety Framework Plan for APL for the Sleepyhead Estate Development 
- Provided a Health & Safety overview of the construction works including attendance at site meetings, regular reviews of contractors documentation, feedback on client proposals in relation to the development
- Provided monthly health & safety audits for APL in accordance with their Framework Plan