Local community input was at the heart of our study to restore the transport network following a series of severe weather events

At a Glance

  • 500km

    Roads Affected

  • 3K

    Faults Identified

  • 1.5K+

    People Engaged

Location
Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
Offices
Client
  • Marlborough District Council
Partners
  • Publik
Awards
IAP2 Awards, Australasia Project of the Year & Disaster and Emergency Services Winner, 2024
ACE New Zealand Awards, Silver, 2024
EMPA New Zealand Awards, Excellence in Emergency Communication – Community Engagement, 2023

Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study

Between July 2021 and August 2022, the Marlborough District’s roading network was damaged by severe weather events. Flooding and landslides caused serious impacts to access in and out of the Marlborough Sounds. A significant number of slips and dropouts made many roads impassable for long periods of time—creating stress and uncertainty for residents and businesses who could no longer rely on roads they normally used. 

To get people moving again, the Marlborough District Council commissioned us to help develop a business case to fund safe and resilient long-term transport access. In a study to gain feedback for transport options, we engaged with stakeholders from five geographic areas within the Sounds and throughout the whole district. From the onset of our study, it was clear that this project would set precedents as to how we engage with a community still suffering from the effects of a natural disaster—we needed to be sensitive in conversations about what future access may look like while also considering a wide range of uncertainties. We conducted workshops, hui, surveys, webinars, and public community events and developed a comprehensive suite of collateral including a website, booklets, videos, and maps of the areas with FAQs.

The community were highly engaged, driven by the knowledge that their input was critical to the success of restoring the transport network. With over seven awards won so far, we’re proud to see the project’s impact celebrated across the industry.

At a Glance

  • 500km

    Roads Affected

  • 3K

    Faults Identified

  • 1.5K+

    People Engaged

Location
Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
Offices
Client
  • Marlborough District Council
Partners
  • Publik
Awards
IAP2 Awards, Australasia Project of the Year & Disaster and Emergency Services Winner, 2024
ACE New Zealand Awards, Silver, 2024
EMPA New Zealand Awards, Excellence in Emergency Communication – Community Engagement, 2023

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