Projects

Cheal was engaged in mid 2010 by Taupo District Council
to arrange, oversee and report on the geotechnical issues
relating to a proposed major watermain upgrade for
Taupo.

The project involved the laying of 3 kms of new 500Ø
watermain, which is critical for the town of Taupo. The
expected soil conditions included hot ground, rock,
groundwater and unsuitable fill. These conditions required
the client to identify geotechnical risks relating to the
construction and ultimately the possible design and
construction cost variances if these risks were not identified
at an early stage.

Cheal are regularly asked to provide expert advice on
geotechnical projects with issues typically relating to slope
stability, geothermal activity, trench stability and dams.

We have access to state of the art geotechnical testing
equipment that enables projects of all sizes to proceed with
an accurate forecast of sub soil costs.

Cheal has been involved in development work on a site known as Huka Falls Resort since the 1980’s. Throughout that period the property has been subject to several development proposals, the latest of which is currently under construction for Taupo Heights Development Ltd.

With Cheal’s professional input Taupo Heights has obtained a Resource Consent for development of the remainder of the property. The residential development makes good use of Urban Design elements such as rear lanes, shared use roadways, low impact stormwater design corridors enhanced with landscape features and noise bunding.

Taupo Heights has previously completed the development of two stages comprising 28 sites. The development of the remaining 49 sites is currently underway and is programmed for completion late in 2017.

Cheal is proud to be involved in residential land development for the Trustees of Pukawa D2 and the Trustees of Pukawa D3 in Kuratau.

This is the remaining portion of land previously zoned Lakeshore Residential by Taumarunui County Council, prior to the amalgamation of this area into Taupo District.

The D2 and D3 Trusts have completed several other subdivisions individually and in their own right in association with Ian Blance and Associates from Taumarunui, which was merged with Cheal in early 2008.

Cheal’s geotechnical, civil engineering and surveying resources are being used to good effect on this challenging subdivision. The land is covered in regenerated bush and part of the property is low lying flat land near the Kuratau River. The unique subdivision will allow dwellings to be constructed in the existing bush and restrictive covenants will be registered to protect bush remaining on these residential sites. A large amount of the land will remain undeveloped and will be vested in either Private or Public Reserve. Pedestrian links are formalised through some of this established bush to allow the public easier access to the Whiowhio Reserve and the Kuratau River Esplanade. Innovative stormwater solutions are required in order to discharge runoff from the low lying parts of the site near the Kuratau River.

The Tuaropaki E Trust has an approximate rural land holding of over 4,000ha. Within this they have several rural and industrial enterprises including geothermal power generation, dairy, sheep and beef farming, hydroponics and a new dairy processing plant.

Cheal has supported the Trust for many years with a range of professional expertise. With the Hydroponics project Cheal provided professional services in extensive earthworks design and management of the site, survey control and set out, stormwater and soil management during construction, resource consents for earthworks, water take and land use. The water take was a constrained issue for the ongoing operation of the plant which was recently strengthened with the design and construction of a 50,000m³ reservoir for irrigation storage.

Tuaropaki Trust leads the way in diversified industries on its land and is an excellent example of what can be accomplished with available resources and a powerful vision. Cheal is proud to be associated with the Trust and will continue to assist them with future ventures.

Gourmet Mokai engaged Cheal to design a 50,000m3
reservoir to capture the large volumes of runoff from
approximately 12 hectares of existing glasshouse.

This would provide the majority of water for use in irrigating
the hydroponic capsicum and tomato plants in the
geothermally heated glasshouses and help supplement the
existing water take from a nearby stream.

Cheal Engineers, Planners and Surveyors were involved in
the full life of the project from assessments of water demand
and resource consent approvals, to detailed design, survey
set out and construction supervision. Cheal worked closely
with the client to meet their needs and achieve the required
goals in an efficient and timely manner.

Project Highlights :

• Various Resource Consents Acquired
• Preliminary Options Investigation and Report
• Geotechnical Investigation and Report
• Subsoil Drainage Network design
• Culvert Upgrade under adjacent road
• 6,500m³ Buffer Pond behind Glasshouses
• Erosion and Sediment Control Plans
• Contractor Management
• Topographical Survey and various Set Out Surveys

Cheal was engaged by a private developer to investigate the geotechnical constraints of their land holding in Holdens Bay, Rotorua.

The subject parcel was located such that significant geotechnical constraints were envisaged for its potential use of intensive residential development. It was sited on land that sat approximately 2m above Lake Rotorua’s high operating level, on a historically swampy flood delta, with open water courses running through it. Recent developments and older housing were present on land surrounding the site.

The preliminary investigation entailed a series of deep Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT’s), with stand pipes installed such that it would be possible to monitor changes to groundwater levels over time. Select shallow hand investigations were also undertaken to gain information about the immediate soil profile.

Under analysis, the soils proved to be susceptible to both lateral and vertical displacement during relevant seismic events. Assessed against the most recent national guidelines, these soils demonstrated settlement values that exceeded threshold values. A range of concept design options was presented to the developer for consideration, for site drainage, civil infrastructure design and specific house foundations.

Cheal was commissioned by Euroscaffold Ltd to undertake Structural Design for a soffit formwork support scaffold structure. The scaffold was to support the construction of the Turbine and Generator building of the Nga Awa Purua Geothermal Power Station near Taupo.

Cheal provided professional advice, checked compliance of the installation against NZ standards and issued producer statements prior to use.

Based on the Layher modular scaffolding system, the structures were 14m high, sitting on a basement slab located 6m below ground level. In addition to the soffit support were external cantilever working platforms and two internal full scaffold access structures.

The scaffolding was designed to carry the dead weight of all materials – concrete, formwork, reinforcement, self-weight and impact loads from pouring concrete. The total load to be supported was approximately 750 tonnes of wet concrete. To cater for the high and real forces it was important to realise the best performance from the scaffolding structures, something that depended on being able to maintain members in a vertical and straight form at all times.

The ‘Mountain to the Sea’ Cycleway, or Ruapehu to Whanganui Nga Tuhono Trail, is part of a New Zealand government co-funded initiative to build and operate a network of ‘Great Rides’ cycle routes through the country.

Cheal was engaged by the Ruapehu District Council to survey part of the cycleway alignment running through Fishers Track (an old unformed “paper” road, to the west of National Park).

The section of track is very remote and steep and the centre line survey of the road alignment needed to show the formed alignment of the road relative to property boundaries. Cheal Surveyors were able to accurately survey the track and at the same time provide the Council officer on-site with a live, digital representation of its position with respect to the legal property boundaries. This allowed for different alignment options to be considered immediately and provided the Council officer with a better “feel” for the land to assist with site decisions. It also meant that fewer site visits were required, saving both time and money.

Cheal has been engaged by Taupo District Council, Mighty River Power and Waikato Regional Council since 2004, to monitor the movement of sediment at various beach locations on the shores of Lake Taupo. The survey data collected is part of an ongoing monitoring program to assist the management of lake shore erosion.

The monitoring involves the annual re-survey of beach profiles at the same locations as established at the commencement of the program in 2004. The data is captured using kinematic GPS techniques. Where the profiles extend beyond the shoreline the data is captured using hydrographic equipment. Cheal own a Ohmex Sonamite hydrographic system that when coupled with the GPS equipment allows real time capture of data in x,y,z format. Profile drawings of the data are prepared and attached to a comprehensive survey report for each locality. Also included within each report is a photo record history. Photos are recorded annually from same locations at each site.

The capture and accurate recording of data compiled to a comprehensive high quality report by our Survey Team allows for our client to make accurate decisions on the future management of lake shore erosion within the Lake Taupo catchment.

Cheal was engaged by Downer Construction in February 2015 to provide precision engineering set out and engineering consultation for the rebuild and strengthening of seven railway bridges on the North Island Main Trunk line, north of Taumarunui.

With expert knowledge in construction set out, Cheal Surveyors managed every aspect of the civil and structural set out work, including accurately and precisely monitoring the movement of the rail track and bridges for the duration of the project. Cheal Engineers also carried out geotechnical investigations and design for crane pads required on some of the sites.

Survey monitoring on bridge BR203, north of Taumarunui

This project was three years in the making with the client, Taupo District Council. A major land acquisition was undertaken by Council to obtain land to facilitate a State Highway 1 bypass around Taupo.

The balance land left over from the bypass parcel was re-zoned as Unserviced Residential and is now referred to as the East Urban Lands (EUL).

The EUL site has many redeeming features: aspect to sun and views, gullies for use of stormwater management and open space, and proximity to town. As a signatory member of the Urban Design Protocol, Taupo District Council has set out to develop the subject site through a master plan approach based upon sustainable design principles. A primary aim of this project is to set a higher standard of residential development within the District.

A joint venture between Cheal and Common Ground Studio in Auckland led to the development of the EUL Master Plan and approval of Resource Consent. The Consent allows for a mixed use development of up to 2,200 residential units and 18,500m2 of commercial gross floor area.

The completed built form will include at source storm water filtration systems and a road reserve layout, including wide shared paths which aim to minimise vehicular use and promote alternative forms of transport. Extensive planting and open space allocation will give rise to a high amenity environment for residents.

All project management, planning and engineering aspects related to EUL was carried out by Cheal. This included extensive stakeholder consultation with parties such as the New Zealand Transport Agency, Landcare, Environment Waikato, and the Department of Conservation.

Cheal Planners are experts in the subdivision of residential properties. The subdivision of an existing residential property requires a resource consent application in every case.

These Consent Applications require a scheme plan showing the location of the current and future buildings and current and future services including access. Cheal Planners in conjunction with Cheal Surveyors regularly lodge these applications and work with other professionals such as architects to ensure the needs of the client are met in every case.

All projects require an understanding of the client’s timeframes and clear communication. Costs associated with these projects include the initial subdivision application, survey work, management of contractors for services and an assessment of Council’s development contributions. Cheal Planners are experienced in all of these matters and are able to provide timely advice and service on all components of such a project.

Cheal has recently been engaged to provide planning advice and related services to Bel Group Dairy Farms based in the Hawke’s Bay.

BEL Group currently milks 8,626 cows across 8 dairy farms totalling 2,439ha with a further 960ha of dairy support land. Cheal has already assisted the company in its latest water permit replacement process, the establishment of further dairy units and the rationalisation of existing water rights.

Reliable and dependable planning advice is critical to the operation, and whether it’s a quick phone call to confirm a basic regulatory requirement, the preparation of a resource consent application or the review of a Plan Change to identify implications on the farming operation, Cheal is proud to be associated with what is a dynamic and progressive dairy farming business.

Our role with Bel Group represents a growing demand for expert advice and services within the environmental sector of the Dairying industry, and Cheal’s environmental services are well geared to meet the demands of farms of all scales. We understand the value of trusting and dependable relationships with our clients and aim to provide this type of service to our rural clients.

Cheal was engaged by our client to scan heritage
building facades in the town of Marton. The buildings
are of significant heritage value to the town.

The facades were captured with our 3D laser scanner
from various locations and the data processed with
high quality imaging software.

The captured data is used to prepare elevation and plan views of the
heritage status buildings. In capturing this data we
now have available a model that can be called
upon in the future for maintenance or reconstruction
works.

Isometric view of The Whitehart

Our client engaged Cheal Surveyors to 3D capture
their Hydro Station facilities at three locations being
Keepit, Hume and Burrinjuck within the state of
New South Wales. The client’s requirement was to
capture the entire exterior and interior of each of
the facilities and deliver a 3D CAD solid model to
import to SolidWorks software.

Our 3D Scanning operator captured all of the
information required within one week. As well as
the CAD solid model output we also delivered FARO
Webshare 2Go files which enables the client to view
and interrogate (extract measurements) from the
imagery captured with the scanner. This is beneficial
in that it enables the engineering team to view and
navigate any part of the facility without the need to
visit the site.

Keepit HEPS: 2D drawing deliverable