KEY POINTS:
Do you live in Auckland? Do you have a question or problem you want solved? Phoebe Falconer answers your queries every Thursday. Email 'Ask Phoebe' at newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz
I know we've had a lot of rain lately, but I can't help wondering why, in spite of truckloads of scoria and new topsoil, the grassed area on the western side of the new Victoria Park playground has looked like a mini Lakes District for months. Did someone forget drainage? Incidentally, the playground is looking fabulous ... can't wait for it to open so I can take my granddaughter there to play. Sylvia Devlin, Tuakau.
No, the drainage is there all right - layers of it. That's not the problem.
The soil in Victoria Park had been contaminated from fill that came from the former Beaumont St gas works. Replacement soil came with stringent conditions: that it be 100 per cent clean, and that the soil profile match the Victoria Park soil. These conditions were not easy to meet, but eventually the council found the right stuff, they thought.
The old soil was removed, at varying depths, and remedy work began. First a geotextile fabric barrier was laid, which is basically like weed-mat, and is permeable. Next a layer of scoria went down, for drainage and to stop the water table bringing more contaminants up. Then more mat, and a stainless steel mesh to prevent anyone digging down. Lastly the topsoil was put in place, to a depth of about 100mm.
Unfortunately, the only topsoil that could be found to match the original has a very high clay content, which is really the answer to the question of ponding on the park. Clay soils, as we all know, are notoriously bad for drainage.
The council will bring uncontaminated sand, and put it in trenches on the particularly wet areas. This work should be done next week, weather permitting.
And the playground will be re-opened on Friday. There won't be a lot of fanfare, as it's too close to the local body elections, but there will be a brief ceremony conducted by Ngati Whatua.
Is it legal to have a bus stop across two consecutive residential driveways? This is the case at 86 and 88 King George Ave, Epsom. Judy Scott.
It's not illegal for buses to stop across vehicle entrances to pick up and drop off passengers, as they do not stay for very long.
However it is illegal for buses or indeed, any vehicle, to park across your driveway.
If this is happening, please call Auckland City Council and ask for parking enforcement.
