Standards New Zealand has completed a review of the New Zealand Standard for Land development and subdivision engineering, NZS 4404:2004. The Standard covers earthworks, roads, drainage, water supply, services, and landscaping, and is a guide to good practice. It sets out design objectives to be achieved and specifications that can be used as a means to comply with those objectives.
NZS 4404 is used by some territorial authorities (TAs) and widely used by architects and designers for technical guidance in the layout and design of streets in subdivisions. Whilst some TAs adopt NZS 4404 entirely into the subdivision sections of their District or City Plans, others use it with amendments, and some have their own documents for this purpose. Regardless, NZS 4404:2010 supersedes the previous 2004 version and in many cases will represent recent progressions in the design and layout of subdivisions which may not yet be reflected in the subdivision documents of some Councils. NZS 4404:2010 can therefore be a useful reference for both developers and Councils when considering subdivision applications.
With a significant shift in focus towards sustainable design by TA’s and reputable developers, the review has therefore become more than simply an update to the 2004 version and will significantly change the way roads are classified and designed, and will change the emphasis on how we manage stormwater.
ViaStrada staff are attending professional development courses on the amendments to NZS4404 and are able to provide Territorial Authorities with advice and assistance in incorporating the standard into their District Plans, or in the development/updating of their own transport engineering standards and codes of practice documents along similar directions. ViaStrada staff are also well placed to provide advice to designers and architects on the transport related components of the subdivision process including the use of the new road types to achieve a coherent and efficient layout and meet the recommended accessibility targets.
For further information and assistance, contact Lisa Williams or Jeanette Ward.