Auckland
SAE Ltd operates in Auckland in two capacities: as direct project engineer for standalone flood assessments and stormwater design, and as CPEng reviewing and authorising engineer for residential infill RC reports.
Regional expertise
Auckland has the most complex and most actively developed civil engineering framework in New Zealand. Auckland Council's Unitary Plan, the Auckland Stormwater Code of Practice v4 (2024), Watercare Code of Practice 2023, and the Stormwater Management Area Framework (SMAF) create a regulatory environment that differs significantly from other NZ regions. SAE has applied these standards across both direct projects and as reviewing engineer for HAL Projects Ltd.
Auckland Council requires that resource consent infrastructure reports for residential development be authorised by a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng). SAE provides this function for HAL Projects Ltd - approximately 30 infill RC reports reviewed and authorised to date. Designer on those reports is Aasif Laskar (BEng/MEng Civil, HAL Projects Ltd). Andre Magdich CPEng reviews each report in full and issues the authorising sign-off before Auckland Council submission.
Auckland-specific technical requirements SAE routinely applies include: TP108 SCS stormwater modelling (Ia = max 5 mm - more conservative than standard SCS), SMAF zone classification (SMAF-1 vs SMAF-2 retention/detention volumes per GD01 calculator), Watercare capacity verification, AUP E12/E27/E36/PC79 compliance, and 2D HEC-RAS flood modelling on 2024 LINZ LiDAR where Auckland Council requires it.
Technical notes
Auckland Council requires stormwater modelling to be performed using the TP108 SCS method, which uses an initial abstraction cap of Ia = max 5 mm - more conservative than the standard SCS (λ = 0.2) or Brazilian SCS (λ = 0.05). This produces higher estimated peak flows, larger detention volumes, and more conservative flood levels than other NZ methods. All SAE Auckland stormwater designs are modelled to TP108, with NIWA HIRDS V4 rainfall data at RCP 8.5 (3.8°C) for Auckland projects.
Where Auckland Council requires a full flood hazard study as a resource consent condition, SAE produces 2D HEC-RAS models on 1 m×1 m grids using 2024 LINZ LiDAR. The Glendale Rd, Glen Eden study demonstrated overland flow paths of 0.469 m³/s and 4.28 m³/s, flood depths to 1.2 m, and included pedestrian hazard mapping as required by Auckland Council. For flood-prone Auckland infill sites, HEC-RAS flood levels determine minimum finish floor levels and may require piled foundations or raised building platforms.
Selected work
| Project | Role | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| Glendale Rd, Glen Eden | Direct project | Full 2D HEC-RAS; 1 m×1 m grid; 2024 LINZ LiDAR; OLFP1 0.469 m³/s, OLFP2 4.28 m³/s; depths to 1.2 m; pedestrian hazard mapping |
| Downing St, Glenfield | Direct project | 3-lot infill; HEC-HMS; 2×3,700 L tanks; Auckland NDC |
| Crystal Ave, Glendene | Direct project | 5-lot infill; full infrastructure; WW pump station (Lots 1–3) |
| Nigel Rd, Browns Bay | Direct project | 17-lot terrace housing; individual detention tanks; deep infrastructure DTI 4.1–5.35 m |
| Woolfield Rd, Papatoetoe | CPEng review (HAL) | Stream discharge; supercritical outlet Fr = 1.56; rip-rap energy dissipation TR2013/018 |
| First Ave, Kingsland | CPEng review (HAL) | Pool chlorine modelling 1.5→0.02 mg/L, 4.9 days; GAC filtration; basement pump station |
| Clinton Ave, Te Atatu | CPEng review (HAL) | 20 units; Aquacomb 30,170 L + 13,292 L JOAL; SMAF-1 zone |
| Tarawera Terrace, St Heliers | CPEng review (HAL) | Q100 RL 5.57–5.60 m; HEC-RAS review; multi-year consent 2023–2025 |
| 335 Blockhouse Bay Rd | CPEng review (HAL) | Flood-prone; piled foundations all dwellings; HEC-RAS modelling |
| Aberfeldy Ave, Highland Park | CPEng review (HAL) | THAB H6; SMAF-2; Watercare capacity-constrained |
| Gosford Drive, Botany | CPEng review (HAL) | Foundation bridging over existing SW pipe; Watercare monitored area |
| 4 Grande Vue Rd, Papatoetoe | CPEng review (HAL) | 5×3,000 L Promax tanks; HEC-RAS; S92 issued |
| Murillo Place, Henderson | CPEng review (HAL) | Thrust bore 250 mm ODPE SDR17; 2×4,000 L tanks |
| Clematis Ave, Hamilton | CPEng review (HAL) | PC12 reuse 5 m³+8 m³; flood RL 33.41 m; Hamilton CoP |
Hamilton City Council projects are included here as they are handled through the same Auckland-based HAL Projects partnership.
SAE provides direct engineering services and CPEng reviewing engineer services for Auckland residential and commercial development. Enquire today.
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