Date Range1923-1991DescriptionThe design branch was one the branches of the City Engineer’s Department. The City Engineer’s Department annual report of the year 1948-1949 gives a detailed overview of the responsibilities of the Design Branch: “ The work of the Engineering Design Branch is of a highly technical nature and includes:
- The preparation of plans, estimates etc for civil engineering works (exclusive of water and drainage works but including pipe line location and design for Water Board) for all Branches of the City Engineer’s and other Departments of the Council
- Engineering and investigational survey works, street improvement design, earthworks, civil engineering structures of various types, recreational and sports ground design etc, specifications and contract documents
- Setting out of works for construction purposes“
Design functions were later split up. The annual report of 1955 mentions the existence of both a Street works and General Engineering Design Branch and of a Structural Engineering Design Branch. In 1972 the functions of the Street works and General Engineering Design Branch were taken over by the Design Branch of the Works Department, those of the Structural Engineering Design Branch by the Structural Branch of the Works Department.
The goals of the Design Branch of the Works Department, as written down in a Civic Offices’ Brief from 1988, were: “to provide design plans and specifications and technical advisory services so that Council works associated with the functions listed below can be done on time” Functions that were carried out wer : the design and contract supervision of street works, environmental works, airport works, seawalls, landfill & transfer stations, .. etc
A restructuring of the Wellington City Council, resulted in the move of the Design Branch functions to the newly created Cityworks Division.
