Stormwater struggling with inadequate council budget

Today’s heavy downfalls and surface flooding around Auckland is a reminder of  just how much investment Auckland needs to make to improve its stormwater network. Yet Mayor Len Brown has not committed the necessary money despite pleas from experts, says Auckland Councillor for Orakei Cameron Brewer. 

Auckland’s stormwater network needs a financial investment of $9.9 billion over the next 50 years according to an official report presented to Auckland Council in 2011. However in the council’s 10-year budget, or Long Term Plan signed off last June, the council only ‘plans to spend up to $768 million on capital (stormwater) projects’ over the coming decade.

“Despite all the issues that heavy rain causes this council is only spending less than 10% over the next 10 years of what’s actually required. It’s not good enough. We need to address Auckland’s inadequate underground infrastructure.

“We need to do so much better particularly given the Mayor’s push for much more urban crowding via the draft Unitary Plan. He tells everyone all the underground infrastructure will be able to cope with residential intensification. However it’s not even coping at the moment, and any budget provision to improve it remains completely inadequate,” says Cameron Brewer.

ENDS

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