Aurecon

Optimising land use

City of Johannesburg precinct plans, South Africa

The City of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy is very clear about its vision for urban spaces: i.e. that of creating “A spatial form that embraces the principles of integration, efficiency and sustainability, and realises tangible increases in accessibility, amenity, and quality of life for all communities and citizens”.

Aurecon was awarded a tender to assist the City of Johannesburg to determine a development strategy and recommendations for Johannesburg’s Bus Rapid Transport and rail precincts that will optimise the existing surrounding land use and reflect the city’s vision. The plans revolve around transit-oriented development (TOD) precincts which entail mixed-use residential or commercial areas designed to maximise access to public transport.

Aurecon is utilising state-of-the-art software to analyse the operational efficiency of existing transport and to test land use planning and associated transport demand alternatives. The project is unique in South Africa because it is a prime example of “twin city” spatial planning which integrates the Soweto and Johannesburg regions. The influence the project will have on the lives of ordinary citizens in these regions is a combination of improved access to reliable public transport, enhanced economic opportunities and, ultimately, a sustainable way of life.

Operational efficiency

Eglinton Station Land Take Study, Western Australia

The Public Transport Authority of Western Australia, local government and land developers wanted to identify land requirements and integration principles for a new rail station and interchange near Yanchep.

A key objective of the project was to ensure operational efficiency while establishing a high degree of integration of the station with the planned town centre. To achieve this Aurecon commenced work to understand important elements including the role that buses would have in providing sustainable access to both the station for commuters, and the town centre for workers, shoppers and other visitors. This includes the provision and management of park and ride facilities to encourage early use of the rail station as an alternative to private car travel to the Perth CBD, but ensure minimal impact on the future development of the town centre.

The Aurecon HUB-id approach equipped the project with urban design and development market understanding to influence development, including exploiting planned excavation and ground levels to integrate centre and station parking, encouraging dual-use of facilities and allowing for development to be integrated with the station, and the provision of low-key transport interchange facilities. This avoided creating a barrier between the station and the surrounding community and ensured the common focus on sustainability, movement and people.

Light Rail System

Aurecon has exceeded key client Christchurch City Council’s expectations with a range of deliverables around a potential new light rail system as part of that City’s rebuild.  Shaun Hardcastle and his team used a proprietary agent based simulation package called AureALIS to create an impressive “fly through” video of a potential new light rail network that incorporated our HUB-id approach to transport and land use planning.

The video was used as part of the public consultation roadshow branded “Have your say” which won an international communications award for public engagement.

The client was impressed with both the high quality of deliverables and the speed with which the Aurecon team turned this around.

Integrated urban design

Rebuilding Christchurch, New Zealand

After a series of strong earthquakes that struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch, the Christchurch City Council set about developing an infrastructure rebuild plan to repair damaged pipes, services, roads and infrastructure. Aurecon is presently offering whole transport network and land use planning assistance to rebuild the urban environment, including planning for implementation of light rail in the City.

By bringing the whole Aurecon offering to assess land-use and transport corridors via cost assessments and benefit analysis in regards to land use opportunities to reshape the city, Aurecon is helping deliver practical, innovative solutions that are much more than the sum of their parts. The project involves determining procurement methods, project pathway and timelines. Aurecon’s involvement led to the secondment of an Aurecon HUB-id team member to help deliver the asset and network planning for the rejuvenation of the city.