meolacreek May 14th, 2008
Stuff.co.nz is running a story on Mt Albert Grammar School head Dale Burden’s request for Metrowater to fence off the section of Meola Creek that runs through the school grounds. He says the water is so contaminated that rugby balls kicked in from the school’s nearby sports fields have to be retrieved with gloves on. Pat Prescott of the St Lukes Environmental Protection Society is quoted in the article:
“We’re hoping they’ll take some action now instead of waiting for another 20 years,” she says. “It’s filthy and full of bugs and really Third World.”
Pat points out that the creek has become polluted because the sewer system was built between 1900 to 1920 and cannot cope with the volume of people using it now.
Mr Burden of Mt Albert Grammar is quoted as saying that the problem is not the schools responsibility and that the authorities need to step in.
“I’m not interested in waiting 20 years for sewer separation to happen,” he says.
“They say they are a community friendly organisation but this is about as community friendly as the bubonic plague.
The full article can be accessed here: Action Call On Polluted Creek
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meolacreek May 13th, 2008
Auckland City Council
Media release
9 May 2008
A programme of works is to be developed to help mitigate the impacts of sewer overflows into Meola Creek. The City Development Committee heard that a long-term solution under consideration by Watercare, the installation of a new interceptor main, is not likely to be operational for about five to 10 years. In the meantime, the committee has asked the council, Metrowater and Watercare to move ahead with initiatives to minimise the problem.
Works would be aimed at:
- protecting the health and safety of the community as far as possible, with fencing, signage and public warnings
- raising the footpath along Meola Creek between the two overflow sites
- roofing over the Lyon Avenue overflow
- improved screens at overflows to reduce the quantity of clearly visual material
- diversion of some stormwater to ground soakage where practical
- improving the creek habitat.
A report to the committee noted that 80 per cent of the overflows came from Watercare sewers, with most from sewers at Lyon Avenue and Haverstock Road.
About 40 per cent of the Meola catchment is served by combined sewers. Currently, Metrowater is conducting sewer separation works in the Motions catchment and this will take nearly all Metrowater’s sewer separation budget for the next three years. Committee chairperson Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said that all the agencies were acutely aware of the unpleasant side effects of sewage overflows. “The trunk system was installed about 100 years ago and our population has simply outgrown its capacity,” he said. “The issue is not just to accommodate the existing need but to future proof the system for new growth and that is a hugely expensive and time consuming process.”
For further information, please contact:
Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, chairperson, City Development Committee
ph 927 209 7562
Email: cr.lotu-iiga@aucklandcity.govt.nz
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