The SkyPath to link the CBD to the North Shore

SkyPath Project Auckland

Auckland’s proposed SkyPath will be a 5m wide pedestrian and cycle bridge running underneath the Harbour Bridge. Yes, it’s expensive. But it’s going to be fabulous. It will allow people on the North Shore to commute to town on their bikes, and be a major drawcard for future international and local tourists.

Building it will be complex and potentially risky. Because it will use the Alliance model, the construction process will involve lots of experts bringing their ideas to the project, and sharing the risk between them. Hopefully, that will mean innovations and experience to keep workers safe as they operate four or five metres above the sea. At that height, there are lots of variables, and safety will be a prime consideration.

Provided we can keep everybody safe during the construction, the SkyPath should be a stunning feature for New Zealand’s largest city. We are looking forward to seeing it come to life!

How Infrastructure Projects Boost Recovery

Infrastructure Investment | IMA Services Blog

With our borders beginning to reopen, 2021 is set to be a year of bumper economic growth for New Zealand. 

 

One area where an enormous sum of cash is being splashed: infrastructure investment. It might seem as though a new roundabout is the last thing anyone needs in a health crisis, and it’s pretty infuriating when you’re stuck in traffic, but infrastructure spending is a powerful tool for economic recovery. Within a decade, every dollar spent on infrastructure generates around $2.70 in returns, according to S&P calculations cited here. 

 

Infrastructure stimulus helps recovery by: 

  • Creating jobs for a wide range of industries, from labourers to lawyers. For every $1 billion spent, infrastructure projects can create up to 10,000 jobs.
  • Targeting spending for specific places, using local workers and boosting a town or part of a city.
  • Improving efficiency by making it easier to work and travel around New Zealand, or boosting digital connectivity. 
  • Making the nation more sustainable by supporting clean energy sources and energy-efficient outcomes. 
  • Addressing problems that need solving or mitigating, like flood risks from climate change and the housing shortage. 
  • Building assets that support New Zealand’s future growth. While direct cash stimulus has a part to play in recovery, wage subsidy money is largely spent or saved. Constructing a new water treatment plant or train station leaves behind long-term assets that improve our lives. 

 

To get the maximum benefit from infrastructure spending, projects need to be well-managed. They must deliver measurable results in a timely way, and the assets created need to live up to what they promised. Infrastructure projects that run wildly over time are a problem. Even worse are failed projects – those with such serious problems that they can’t be used for their intended purpose. The disastrous Berlin Brandenburg airport is a perfect example, although at least it’s finally getting some use. This is just more evidence in support of that old industry saying: ‘Every dollar you spend in planning saves two dollars later on. 

 

Well-planned and well-executed projects will help economic recovery in the short term, and in the long term, they help New Zealand thrive as a place to live and work. Try to bear that in mind when the road works are holding you up again!

Excited to Help Porirua Grow

Porirua Development Independent Auditor

IMA Services has been appointed by Kainga Ora as the independent auditor on the Porirua Development.

We’re thrilled to be part of this huge alliance, helping to create better homes and great neighbourhoods in this fast-growing area. This is just one of the outstanding kiwi infrastructure projects that we know will help boost economic recovery in 2021.

We’re looking forward to meeting everyone involved, talking to the community and working toward some fantastic outcomes for residents and business owners in Porirua.