What was once an Auckland winery and vineyard in Swanson, is now Vines Estate, a community of 250 brand new 2–4-bedroom homes ranging from walk-up apartments to terraced dwellings. The new development brings lifestyle and comfort to families of all sizes, with easy transport links, greenspaces and even a planned boutique hospitality venue and community space in the historical Yozin packing area.
Heritage and Modern Living
The site that Vines Estate occupies holds significant heritage value with two original buildings registered as heritage sites in the Auckland Unitary Plan. The Yozin Packing Shed, in particular, stands out as a notable community landmark. Heritage buildings have been skilfully integrated into the new development, renovating and converting them for commercial use. The new road, Yozin Road, honours the site's historical roots.
CKL's planning team engaged early with the client and architect to develop a masterplan for Vines Estate. They discussed staging approaches to ensure the best outcomes for the client and a smooth delivery of homes. This included engaging with Mana Whenua, specifically Te Kawerau a Maki, to respect and incorporate cultural heritage into the project. CKL coordinated the preparation of nine resource consent applications, covering bulk earthworks, soil contamination, and various land use and subdivision consents.
CKL's engineering services encompassed resource consent and detailed design of all infrastructure. Significant upgrades were made to stormwater systems, including a new outlet structure into Waiomoko Stream. The design also included private accessways and public roads, ensuring all effects were managed onsite in collaboration with Auckland Transport and Healthy Waters. Coordination with structural engineers was essential for the boardwalk design, enhancing the site's connectivity.
Transforming the Landscape
Surveying played a crucial role in the development of Vines Estate. CKL conducted a comprehensive topographical survey of the site and prepared scheme plans for each resource consent application. They also set out the boardwalk, retaining walls, and infrastructure. Regular drone surveys tracked earthworks and site progress, ensuring precision and accuracy. At each stage's completion, CKL prepared land transfer and unit title plans to obtain necessary titles.
CKL also conducted extensive flood modelling of the Waiomoko Stream catchment and the wider environment. Working closely with Healthy Waters, they developed appropriate stormwater management solutions, including swale designs for the new road and onsite raingardens. These measures ensure effective management of overland flow paths through the development, maintaining environmental integrity.
CKL's transport team liaised with Auckland Transport to design the new roads, including zebra crossings and raised tables on Swanson Road and O’Neills Road. They also handled private parking and accessway designs, ensuring seamless integration with existing transport infrastructure. The Traffic Resolution Report, approved by Auckland Transport, was a key component in finalising the transport solutions for Vines Estate.
A New Chapter for Swanson
The transformation of the former winery and vineyard into Vines Estate marks a new chapter for Swanson. CKL's comprehensive services in planning, engineering, surveying, environmental management, and transport have contributed to bringing this vision to life, creating a community that honours its heritage while offering modern living amenities. Vines Estate stands as a testament to CKL's commitment to innovative, sustainable, and community-focused development.
