Auckland Council Applies for Discharge Consent Including Sewage Overflows

February 1st, 2018

Auckland Council’s “Healthy Waters” have submitted a “35 year Auckland-wide stormwater network discharge consent” application, to Auckland Council.

This is the consent that will allow sewage to be discharged into Meola Waititiko (and many other waterways) allowing the streams to continue to be open sewers in our neighbourhoods, and poison our harbours and beaches.

A supporting “assessment of environmental effects” document states two pertinent facts:

  • “Discharges of untreated wastewater to land, streams and the coast generally occur as a result of the network overflowing”
  • “Benefits from limited resources are maximised by targeting our priorities to achieve the best outcomes we can afford.”

While it is unlikely that there is any option but to grant this consent, as there is no immediate alternative, this is not good enough for Auckland, and certainly was not the kind of consent that the Resource Management Act intended to enable, so make a submission and have your say!

Submissions are open until 20th of March, and can be made here:  Resource Consent Submissions

More information (including the “Assessment of Environmental Effects”) can be found here: Resource Consent Application

For proposed STEPS response see our blog on this site dated 11 March 2018.

Kerr Taylor Reserve Working Bee 10th February

January 26th, 2018

Meola Aquifer – how will it handle intensification?

December 27th, 2017

A study conducted for Auckland City’s integrated catchment study looked at two large aquifers on the isthmus, comparing current with “maximum probable 2050 land use” in Meola and Onehunga. This picture shows the  “paleo ridges” and “paleo valleys” of pre-volcanic Waitemata sandstone, along which the groundwater flows. It seems Meola Creek and its former tributaries closely follow the valleys of the old landscape.

The study concluded that although spare capacity existed in the aquifers to accommodate additional stormwater disposal there was a major unresolved issue is to find practical ways to capture and inject large volumes of stormwater generated by short, high intensity storms.  It noted that additional flooding would occur in high rainfall years.   See ICS Groundwater Behaviour and Assessment

This poses a few questions such as:

  • what is the significance of ‘spare capacity’ in the aquifer?  Does it mean that groundwater supplies have been reduced?
  • what methods would Auckland Council (AC) grant itself consents for, in order to reduce flooding and recharge the aquifer?
  • how would AC guarantee no reduction of groundwater quality as it tries to deal with further urban development and intensification?
  • what stormwater treatment methods can AC show us now as functional examples?

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