Environmentally-Friendly Permeable Paving

A trial of Stevenson’s new permeable paving system has now been successfully conducted on Birkdale Road on Auckland’s North Shore. The North Shore City Council, together with its project partners Auckland University, Auckland Regional Council, Maunsell, D&B Kettle Consulting and Stevenson, is pleased with trial results to date.

The trial took place along a 30-metre section of road in Birkdale using filtering layers beneath the pavers to clean and slow down water runoff. North Shore City Council’s Infrastructure Planning Manager Water Services, Jan Heijs reports that the permeable pavers system is removing up to 90 per cent of stormwater toxins, which would otherwise flow directly to our streams and harbour. It also reduces stormwater flows and volumes, which helps to protect our streams.

Stevenson’s permeable paving system incorporates aggregate and also the upper layer of paving. The system that was tested is vastly different from the model currently used in roading.

‘We’ve been conducting research into a viable permeable paving system for the past two to three years, and it’s heartening that the trial has been successful,’ says Steve Crossland, Sales Manager Key Accounts, from Stevenson Masonry.

Usually water is kept away from the sub-base aggregate on roads. Stevenson’s new permeable system uses aggregate that’s designed to allow water to run through it and for the road to remain structurally sound. The system allows surface water to slowly soak into the ground and is a recognised stormwater management solution for the protection and enhancement of the environment.

‘Birkdale Road has a heavy traffic count of around 2000 vehicles a day, so it has provided a good structural trial,’ says André van Huyssteen from GHD Limited, consultants who designed the trial area with council engineers. ‘The new permeable paving system performed well during heavy rain throughout last winter and under harsh conditions. ’

‘In the light of the good test results, we are launching the new system into the market,’says Steve Crossland. The pavers are a made-to-order product that can be coloured, to suit the aesthetic requirements of a specific environment.

For further information call 0800 256 257.