Complex challenges, uncompromised quality
Gill Landscapes Ltd was engaged by Hughes Developments Ltd to deliver the landscape construction works for a new 400-lot residential subdivision in Rolleston, Canterbury.
Hughes Developments, one of New Zealand’s largest residential developers, is recognised for creating extensively landscaped subdivisions that enhance the living experience for both residents and visitors.
The client required the project to be completed within an eight-month period. The subdivision’s design involved complex landscaping elements, and Hughes Developments sought delivery to the highest quality standards while adhering to a strict timeline. Completing a multi-million-dollar landscape project in such a short period presented significant challenges, with no room for weather-related delays, sickness, or disruptions caused by COVID-19. To accommodate this we carefully planned resources, engaging trusted subcontractors under strict quality assurance protocols to maintain continuity and standards on site.
Some construction elements required innovate solutions to meet the schedule. Labour-intensive in situ concrete walls were replaced with precast alternatives as an effective alternative meeting the same high standards of the client. Brick walls were constructed on post-and-rail superstructures to prevent efflorescence and reduce long-term maintenance concerns.
Supply-chain delays also threatened the installation of the Te Mata Peak playground, a key feature of the Stage 4 Reserve. By installing concrete foundations early and finishing the surrounding soft-fall matting, playground equipment could be added later without impacting project completion or the timely certification and settlement of pre-sold lots.
Gill Landscapes provided full management and site supervision, ensuring health and safety compliance, quality assurance, and ongoing maintenance. Works included a wide range of landscaping elements such as concrete pavements, brick and precast walls, timber and aluminium fencing, bespoke pergolas, gabion baskets, bollards, benches, artificial and natural lawns, garden beds, and 479 specimen trees. Automated irrigation systems were installed, and three months of post-completion maintenance ensured the landscape was fully established.
Sustainability was a key consideration throughout this project. All timber used, including pine, and Purpleheart hardwood, was sustainably sourced, with certifications from FSC and local New Zealand plantations ensuring responsible harvesting and minimising transportation emissions. Steel elements were purchased locally to reduce carbon footprint, and recycled hardwood was repurposed for the entranceway features, extending its lifespan by decades. Topsoil stripped during site preparation was carefully stockpiled and reused in garden beds and lawns, preserving soil structure and avoiding the environmental impact of importing new soil.
The project was successfully delivered on schedule despite the compressed timeline and external challenges. Innovate construction methodologies, careful subcontractor coordination, and rigorous quality management ensured the subdivision met Hughes Developments’ standards for design, functionality, and sustainability.
The Faringdon Westwood subdivision now stands as a visual appealing, enduring, and highly functional residential environment, demonstrating Gill Landscapes’ capability to deliver complex, high-quality landscaping projects under challenging conditions.
Client
Hughes Development Ltd
Project Delivered
2023
Landscape Designer
Kamo Marsh Landscape Architects
