Protecting city's coastal waters and streams

Protecting and maintaining the quality of coastal waters, streams and Lake Pupuke is at the heart of the North Shore City Council's draft water management strategy.

The city with the country's longest urban coastline (148 kilometres), many streams and Lake Pupuke - Takapuna's freshwater lake - is taking an integrated approach to looking after its waterways.

The council's strategy and finance committee chairperson, Tony Holman, says the city's natural environment is highly valued by residents and visitors.

"North Shore City is a beautiful place and its coastal waters, streams and Lake Pupuke are major features of it.

"We need to continue looking after and protecting these valued resources from harmful flooding, erosion, and pollution," Councillor Holman says. The council wears a number of hats in the area of water management including network operation, regulatory, educational and advocacy.

The water management strategy is a comprehensive way for the council to ensure its stream and water management programmes are well planned and co-ordinated.

Many of the actions in the strategy are ongoing but it does introduce initiatives such as environmental education campaigns, strengthening sediment control guidelines, encouraging planting along streams and promoting best practice.

Tony Holman says the council also wants to ensure that stormwater systems and infrastructure are designed, planned and monitored in a way that minimises stream and coastal erosion, and reduces sediments from construction work and road runoff which degrade streams.

North Shore City Council is currently consulting on its wastewater and stormwater networks consents process as one of the proposals in its draft 2004-2014 City Plan. The proposal asks people whether the council should continue its current programme for stormwater upgrades or spend more and fast track them.

The draft water management strategy is also available for comment and will be used as part of the council's application to the Auckland Regional Council for resource consents.

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