Our progress towards a better environment Our progress towards a better environment
Auckland Transport (AT) has worked with mana whenua to develop the 'Hīkina Te Wero: Environment Action Plan' (PDF, 919KB). This plan ensures our transport network protects and restores the environment. It was approved by the AT Board in Dec 2021 and combines our environmental work into a single framework.
Hikīna te Wero – measuring our environmental impact
At AT our mission is to enable accessible and reliable travel options to connect Auckland’s people and communities. To ensure we protect and restore our city for the next generations, our travel infrastructure must be designed and delivered in a way that addresses our impact on the environment, now and into the future. Hikīna te Wero is our commitment to do that. It was endorsed by our Board in December 2021 and every year we measure our progress against five priority environmental goals.
- Greening our network
- Water conservation
- Fish passage and biodiversity
- Waste minimisation
- Managing our discharges
This year we share our third environment scorecard in English and te reo Māori.
We have made great progress on some of the targets and have identified room for improvement on others.
Environment scorecard
Download the environment scorecard in English (JPEG, 1MB)
Environment scorecard in te reo Māori
Download the environment scorecard in te reo Maori (JPEG, 1.1MB)
The 5 targets in detail
Greening our network
Auckland’s amazing street trees look great and provide shade and oxygen. By reducing the heat for pedestrians in summer, they help our communities be resilient to climate change. They reduce stormwater runoff. In turn, this reduces flooding and cleans our stormwater. They provide a home for much of our precious wildlife. We aim to increase the number of street trees in areas where they are lacking, particularly South Auckland.
Targets
We will increase tree cover along Auckland streets to an average of 12%. We will help our streets become 10% more spongy to reduce stormwater runoff and to replenish our ground water. We do this through things like planting trees, rain gardens, and green roofs.
How we will measure this
We will work with Auckland Council, who regularly measure the canopy cover and annually plant street trees. We will focus on local board(s) most vulnerable to the heat island effect.
Our progress
This year, 4,313 new street trees were planted by Auckland Council Urban Ngahere Team. We trialled living shelters at 12 of our bus stops. The living shelters included green roofs. We are monitoring these to see how the plants survive in summer before rolling these out across Auckland.
Water Conservation
We can waste less drinking water by not using it to keep dust down during construction. Auckland has experienced a water shortage in recent years – drinking water is precious.
Targets
All AT capital/maintenance projects over $5 million will collect rainwater for activities that do not need drinkable water.
How we will measure this
Our contractors and staff will track the use of rainwater for construction, maintenance and operations. AT also tracks the use of water at our bus, train and ferry stations.
Our progress
Most of our major contractors have installed rainwater tanks at their depots for construction and maintenance work. One of our capital projects has also established a non-potable water supply.
Fish Passage and Biodiversity
Fish sometimes need to travel through our drainpipes to reach habitats and breeding grounds. Sometimes this access is blocked. Fish contribute to New Zealand’s biodiversity. They help support our native bird species. A healthy and thriving ecosystem helps create a healthy city.
Target
We want at least 20% of rural drainpipes (culverts) located on streams where fish live to provide passage for fish.
How we will measure this
We will check and review the condition of the drainpipes to make sure fish can pass through. We will fix them where needed.
Our progress
Last year we checked drainpipes across the Auckland region to see where fish couldn’t get through. These are under review and may be delivered in the next financial year.
Minimising Waste
Minimising waste helps us manage our natural resources wisely. We spend less money buying new materials. There are fewer vehicles trucking material to landfill. This reduces the demand for landfill space. It also reduces energy and carbon emissions.
Target
We aim to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill by 50%. We will cut waste from construction, maintenance, and operation of the transport network. Another way of saying this is that we want to divert 75% of our waste away from landfill.
How we will measure this
The volume of materials sent to and diverted from landfill will be recorded and tracked through our contracts. We are encouraging our contractors to use recycled materials.
Our progress
Last year, our maintenance contracts diverted 72% of their waste. Our construction contracts diverted 87% of their waste.
Managing road runoff
Our streets attract litter, oils, glass, dust, microplastics and more. Managing road runoff is about providing a filter between what ends up on our streets and what ends up in our stormwater system and harbours. Filters like raingardens use vegetation and mulch to clean stormwater before it reaches our harbours.
Target
By 2030, we aim to treat runoff from 30% of our busiest roads.
How we will measure this
We will measure how much of the road runoff along our busiest roads is treated by treatment devices. We will use this to help prioritise the location of these devices.
Our progress
This year we were able to install one new treatment device on a busy road in central Auckland. We installed 343 treatment devices in smaller residential streets.