Infrastructure and environment big issues facing New Zealand

The Dean of The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering is hosting a public lecture on New Zealand’s infrastructure and environmental needs. National experts will discuss how industry and researchers are preparing to meet future demands in these two areas.

“One of the main challenges facing our engineers is how to manage the development of infrastructure while minimising the impact of infrastructure development on the environment,” Dean of Engineering Professor Michael Davies says.

“We have a growing population, particularly in urban areas. By 2030 New Zealand’s population is predicted to grow to five million, with 62 percent of that growth to occur in the Auckland region. These people will need to have access to clean water, good telecommunications, power, transportation and suitable buildings.”

Dr Suzanne Wilkinson from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will outline how Faculty of Engineering and University researchers are helping to meet these challenges under the new Infrastructure and Environment Research Theme introduced this year.

Other guest speakers will include Kevin Mara, General Manager Asset Programme at Housing New Zealand, who will speak on Housing New Zealand’s national housing strategy; Jim Bentley, Director of the Centre for Infrastructure Research, who will speak about the investment needs for Auckland Regional Transport; and Richard Forgan, Executive Director National Infrastructure Unit.

The lecture is the second in the Faculty of Engineering Dean’s Lecture Series 2010. Others in the series will address the research themes of Technologies for Health; Energy; and Innovation in Manufacturing and Materials.