Iona is one of Hawke’s Bay’s largest residential developments and a significant growth
area for Havelock North. Spanning approximately 55 hectares, the development will
provide much-needed residential capacity while responding to the site’s natural
characteristics.
CKL was engaged by CDL Land New Zealand Limited (CDL), building on a long-standing
relationship and CKL’s specialist expertise in stormwater and flood management.
Working alongside land development consultancy Development Nous, CKL has led the
environmental engineering and stormwater response, helping embed sustainability and
resilience into the development from its earliest stages.
The challenge
Developing Iona required a stormwater strategy capable of supporting significant urban
growth without creating adverse effects downstream.
The project team needed to understand how water naturally moved through the site and
allocate sufficient space for stormwater treatment and flood management from the
outset.
The solution also needed to meet stringent council requirements for water quality and
system resilience while integrating with the proposed urban environment and
minimising unnecessary earthworks.
CKL’s approach
CKL began working on Iona in 2020, identifying and allocating space for stormwater
infrastructure including treatment basins, rain gardens and wetlands.
Taking a catchment-wide approach, CKL modelled existing water flows, flood behaviour
and potential downstream effects. This informed the location and design of stormwater
infrastructure and enabled environmental considerations to be integrated into the wider
urban design.
CKL also worked closely with Development Nous and regional and local councils
throughout the design and consenting process.
Low-impact design principles were incorporated wherever possible, with green spaces
and stormwater facilities designed to work with the natural contours of the land, retain
existing water pathways and minimise unnecessary earthworks.
The outcome
The result is a resilient stormwater and flood-management framework that supports the
long-term development of Iona while protecting downstream environments and
contributing positively to the landscape and liveability of the development.
When Cyclone Gabrielle struck Hawke’s Bay in February 2023, observed flooding
provided a valuable opportunity to compare real-world flood behaviour with CKL’s
modelling. The close alignment provided further validation of the modelling
underpinning the design.
CKL’s work has also helped identify opportunities to address existing flooding issues as
the area develops.
Construction began in 2023. CKL continues to support the delivery of Iona and
subsequent stages, helping enable significant urban growth while building greater
resilience into the wider environment.
