Archive for the 'Environmental Issues' Category

Meola Creek and the Western Springs/ Three Kings Aquifer system.

stephen October 20th, 2009

Caleb Clarke, who designed the new boardwalk in the Roy Clements Treeway has provided a very useful diagram showing the relationships between Owairaka Mt Albert, Maungawhau, Three Kings and Meola Creek on p7 of this paper. http://www.nzsses.auckland.ac.nz/Conference/2008/papers/Clarke.pdf

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Central Interceptor update

stephen October 20th, 2009

Central Interceptor project.

Watercare Services recently invited STEPS to meet and provide input to the preliminary
design of the Central Interceptor project.

The following pdfs slides show that Meola Creek provides the largest volume of overflows into
the Waitemata Harbour each year.

Central Interceptor and Associated Works Programme Central Interceptor and Associated Works Programme August 2009 Update part 1 of 2 (1Mb)

Central Interceptor and Associated Works Programme Central Interceptor and Associated Works Programme August 2009 Update part 2 of 2 (1Mb)

STEPS is pleased that Watercare Services are working on solving this serious and long
term problem.

For more information see also http://www.water.co.nz/fms/Publications/Interflow/0812interflowfinal.pdf

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STEPS Presentation to Auckland City Development Committee

stephen August 3rd, 2009

On 9 July STEPS made a presentation to the Development Committee on significant water issues such as Westfield, St Lukes, plan change, and Winstones plans to fill the Three Kings quarry pit.

Here is the presentation. Presentation Development Committee-0907

Minutes are at http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/members/committeemeetings/city/m20090709.asp. The city will follow up on progress regarding the Watercare Services sewer interceptor upgrade.


STEPS SUBMISSION ON WESTFIELD ST LUKES PLAN CHANGE

stephen July 23rd, 2009

STEPS opposed this plan change on a number of grounds as attached. A summary of all submissions is now available on the council site above.  Anyone can now make a further submission in support of STEPS or other submissions until 31 July 2009.
STEPS submission can be read here.

Changes to Meola, Three Kings, and Western Springs Aquifer

stephen July 23rd, 2009

The large aquifer underlying Meola and Oakley Catchments has at least three names as above. The different names make clear the large extent of the clean water - a “buried treasure” of Auckland City.
As part of their Quarrying operation, Winstones are pumping out water from the top of the aquifer under Meola Creek - and into Manukau Harbour through the stormwater system. STEPS believes this has a direct impact on Meola Creek’s low base flow.

The report prepared for Winstone Aggregates by Tonkin and Taylor Ltd 8 July 2008 p1 “At its current depth (quarry base at RL34, with quarry rim at RL60-RL80 approx), resources are being extracted from below regional groundwater level. Groundwater within the quarry is depressed to below the quarry floor by pumping from a well within the quarry property.“

2009 photo - water is normally maintained at 34 RSL

2009 photo - water is normally maintained at 34 RSL

1998 photo - water is approx 2 metres above water table

1998 photo - water is approx 2 metres above water table (56 RSL)

These pictures give some idea of the amount of water which is removed in order to achieve this.
In May 2009 Winstones applied for a resource consent to fill the hole with “clean fill”.   The Three Kings United group (whose link is on this site) have monitored and researched this situation for many years. They are asking for truck  movements to be limited, and for the pit to be lined with impermeable surface to prevent leaching into the aquifer.

All technical documents are on Winstones’ own site http://www.winstoneaggregates.co.nz/DMS/Three_Kings_Quarry.php?id=40

Westfield seeks Private Plan Change for St Lukes Mall expansion

meolacreek May 5th, 2009

St Lukes Mall is less than 200 metres from Meola Creek, Lyon Ave.
Here is a typical flood occurring several times a year - where the Watercare Services Edendale branch sewer overflows at Lyon Ave, and pours a torrent of stormwater (including pollutants and sewage from combined sewers) into Meola Creek, and over the grounds of adjacent schools.
a torrent of stormwater (including pollutants and sewage from combined sewers) into Meola Creek

a torrent of stormwater (including pollutants and sewage from combined sewers) into Meola Creek

This week, Westfield notified a private plan change.
From initial reading of the documents we conclude that :
  • Westfield wants to change the zoning of many residential 6a and 7b properties to business 8
  • they plan an expansion of an extra 23000 sq meters beyond their shopping mall of 35800 sq meters + carpark of 26000 sq m
  • the mall development will occur over an additional 49000 sq m (carpark plus existing residential properties)
  • they are planning for a FIVE (5) fold increase in consumption of water; and emission of  waste water and a TEN (10) fold increase in storm water - both peak and average flows
  • the existing northern carpark constructed in 2003 …appears to have inadequate stormwater disposal capacity as of now
  • Watercare Services advised that the existing Edendale Branch sewer has adequate capacity to receive the additional waste water
  • no additional stormwater would be permitted to discharge into the sewer
  • excess stormwater from the site would be directed on to adjacent road reserves…to continue along the natural course downstream of the shopping centre [ie into Meola Creek at Lyon Ave as above]
(Reference Report prepared for Westfield NZ Ltd by Tonkin and Taylor Ltd 18 November 2008)
STEPS believes:
  1. Auckland City Council should not issue approvals for extremely large scale developments such as this, in an area where their own reports frequently point out the lack of capacity of the stormwater and waste water infrastructure
  2. We challenge Watercare Services statements about adequate capacity - when we all know that waste water and stormwater overflow here many times a year
  3. Most New Zealanders will find it hard to understand that NZ’s largest city accepts this situation where raw sewage frequently flows through public parks and school grounds, and heavy metal pollutants pour into Waitemata Harbour beside [heritage protected] Te Tokaroa/ Meola Reef.
  4. It is even hard to understand how Westfield and the planners of Auckland City Council have worked for several years to develop a proposal which once again ignores the unacceptable reality of these overflows through the heart of the Mt Albert electorate.
  5. ARC, Auckland City and Watercare services need to make it a priority to upgrade the Watercare Interceptor to stop these overflows
NOTE: We understand that approval of this Private Plan change would mean that they need not seek resource consents in future, providing they comply with Business 8. We also understand that there are proposed RMA changes which would prevent private plan changes. This probably increases the urgency of the approval of the plan change for Westfield - as without it they would have to seek resource consents in future.
Any comments on or updates to the above are welcome.

Meola Creek References

Liz March 24th, 2009

Some info from Metrowater:

Metrowater manage the creek on behalf of Auckland City who own Meola and four other urban streams on the Auckland isthmus:

The Meola Creek catchment is predominantly under residential land use
with small area of light industry and commercial use, such as St Lukes
shopping centre.
Stormwater disposal via soakage to the underlying volcanic aquifer
occurs across much of the catchment.  This recharges the aquifer, from
which groundwater discharges into Meola stream to the south of the
groundwater divide and, by virtue of the outflow from Western Springs,
into Motions Creek north of the divide.  In the remainder of each
catchment stormwater is piped through the combined stormwater/wastewater
system from which wastewater overflows can occur during some events.

Meola Reef Reserve and land to the south of Meola Road between the two
creeks (Meola and Motions) was previously a landfill.  Although the
landfill has been closed since the 1970’s, leachate discharges have
continued, leading to a current programme of landfill remediation.

Meola Creek has value as a public amenity and an aquatic ecosystem.
Consequently, knowledge of the water quality and the level of
contamination contributed by stormwater and wastewater inputs is
important for the management of the stream.

Metrowater and Auckland City Council have commissioned many studies to
establish baseline water quality conditions in multiple Auckland
Streams.  The results of these studies can then be compared to future
monitoring results to identify the extent of any changes over time.

For extra info about Meola and water catchments in Auckland City:

The most comprehensive source was published in 2001: Auckland City Drainage System Resource Consents Assessment of Environmental Effects

http://www.metrowater.co.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aee_contents.pdf

There are 14 separate chapters published on the web - by Metrowater…  here is one
http://www.metrowater.co.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aee_chpt07.pdf
You can search by chapters and there is an index - they are all similarly
named. Chapter 7 is in fact the biological environment - and chapter 8 is the assessment of environmental impacts. There are also more references.


Aspects of drainage and issues and the new Roy Clements Treeway Boardwalk Project

www.nzsses.auckland.ac.nz/conference/2008/papers/Clarke.pdf

A general introduction to Meola Creek which includes some stormwater
info…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meola_Creek

For general information on stormwater and understanding stormwater and
stormwater systems and issue visit the ARC website/page:
http://www.arc.govt.nz/environment/water/stormwater/stormwater_home.cfm

Other references

Report

Author

Date

Auckland City Drainage System Resource Consents Assessment of Environmental Effects

Auckland City, Metrowater

March 2001

See wwwmetrowater.co.nz/environmental/aee.aspx

Water Quality Monitoring Report. ICS Area 1: Integrated Catchment Study Stage 1D. Meola and Motions Creek

Sinclair Knight Merz Ltd.

Feb 2004

Meola Stormwater Management Plan. Volume 5. Management Plan - Issue D

City Design

Sep 1997

Meola Catchment Groundwater Soakage. Study Stage 2. Investigations

City Design

May 1998

Meola Integrated Catchment Management Project. Phase 1 Report - Volume 1. May 2000 DRAFT

Sinclair Knight Merz

May 2000

Meola Reef and Associated Reserves. Draft Management Plan

City Design

2000

Meola Integrated Catchment Management Project. Phase 2 Report - Remedial Options

Sinclair Knight Merz

Feb 2002

National Fresh Water Management Policy

Liz January 27th, 2009

The Ministry of Environment is developing objective and policies for managing New Zealand’s freshwater resources.  See http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/central/nps/consultation/index.html

STEPS has joined with Friends of Oakley Creek to make a submission  to ensure that the plight of urban streams is recognised and appropriate actions considered. The submission is attached.

STEPS DISAPPOINTED IN AUCKLAND CITY STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE CUTS

Liz November 12th, 2008

It is hard to believe that Auckland City is reducing spending on critical infrastructure projects. Waste water infrastructure is a fundamental need of cities. Auckland is clearly not going to meet it’s ‘BIG CITY BASELINE’ in this area - which is critical to the health and well being of Aucklanders.

“One project sure to disappoint Aucklanders is an $86 million cut in
stormwater spending that will almost certainly result in waste overflows
continuing at St Heliers and other city beaches for years longer than
planned.”

link:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article…cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10542482

Dead and Injured Pukekos in Meola Drain

Liz October 24th, 2008

I have a concern about the safety of both children and wildlife at the sewer outfall behind Haverstock Rd, Mt Albert.

On Tuesday 21 October we saw a young boy (under 10) climbing on the outfall in Kerr-Taylor Reserve which is next to a house. This is the place where the sewer overflows from 96 Haverstock Rd emerge, and the stream here can be highly polluted.

When we reached it there were two young boys climbing down. They were looking at the dead pukeko lying there, and a second pukeko attending to the dead one. The young boy broke a bottle and starting climbing down further with some broken glass in his hand. We told him the water was very dirty, and we said how sad it was the bird was dead. He came back up.

We waited while the bird walked away. We noticed its tail feathers were all removed or cut off. We contacted SPCA - who said they are unable to do much.

We are concerned about this and think we need to see if there is more required to prevent children from going into the sewer outfall. We contacted Metrowater who removed the dead bird. We also asked them whether clearer signs are needed.

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