Green light for Waiatarua Reserve stormwater upgrade

Auckland City Council’s Works Committee today gave the go-ahead to proceed with stages 2 and 3 of the stormwater upgrade project in Waiatarua Reserve.

Stage 1 of the works was completed in May 2003 with the installation of sediment traps in some of the inlet channels and the construction of bunds.

During the winter months, a further peer review of the project design was carried out by an independent expert in stormwater wetlands. The review concluded that a wetland is an appropriate method for treating the anticipated stormwater volumes and will significantly reduce contaminants discharged to the receiving environment.

“We called for the peer review to ensure the proposed design would meet Auckland City’s obligations and objectives, while at the same time address concerns raised by residents in ways that would not compromise the original intention of the design,” says Councillor Bill Christian, chairperson of the Works Committee.

“As residents, we are pleased with the consultation for the peer review, and the subsequent changes made to the project design,” says Christine Dowden, coordinator of the Waiatarua Reserve Protection Society.

Stages 2 and 3 of the works will take place during the summers of 2003/2004 and 2004/2005.

The Ellerslie-Waiatarua stormwater catchment is a significant contributor to the deterioration in water quality in the Orakei Basin public recreation area, with flow-on effects felt in the wider Hobson Bay and Waitemata Harbour receiving environments.

“We are delighted with the project plan and with Auckland City’s efforts to ensure the scheme is the best possible,” says Lynley Olsen of the Orakei Basin Protection Group.

The Waiatarua Reserve stormwater upgrade system is designed to provide an integrated solution to stormwater impacts on the receiving waters, by removing over 80% per cent of suspended sediment and substantial quantities of other contaminants.

“Improving the quality of stormwater runoff from the Ellerslie-Waiatarua catchment is critical to minimising the risk to public health in our recreational waters, says Mr Christian.

The estimated total physical works budget for the project is $5,450,000. In recognition of the high efficiencies for water treatment offered by the project design, Infrastructure Auckland have approved a grant of $1,367,204 to assist in funding the project.

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