stephen June 27th, 2010
Update: Further to STEPS submission regarding the lack of waste and storm water infrastructure at http://www.meolacreek.org.nz/2009/07/23/steps-submission-on-westfield-st-lukes-plan-change/ Roy Clements, Pat Prescott and Liz Walker appeared at the hearings on 22 June 2010.
Our presentation is linked click here (3Mb pdf), including pictures of the 1 June storm which covered the board walk with storm and waste water overflow. STEPS was very interested to discover that the Environment Court had made a ruling in December 2009 declaring St Lukes a town centre, with input from ARC and ACC and despite lack of infrastructure. All hearings submissions and evidence have been scanned by the council and placed here (click on Agenda Attachments) http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/members/hearings/a201006140930.asp
stephen June 16th, 2010
Mount Albert Grammar School Cuts Community Links
STEPS is very disappointed at recent initiatives by Mt Albert Grammar School (MAGS) to cut down old trees, build a high iron fence, and block the path which links the MAGS school farm and Alberton Ave with Kerr Taylor Reserve, Meola Creek and Fergusson Ave.
Over the past few years STEPS and MAGS have worked very well together - and only 2 weeks ago STEPS planted the stream side in the school grounds near the boarding school. So STEPS was shocked when MAGS started cutting down some old and stately trees along its Eastern Boundary with the Reserve. MAGS had also blocked the path through to the school farm - apparently for some leaky building site works.
STEPS held two meetings with MAGS over a 12 month period. At the first the school representative denied any knowledge when questioned about school plans regarding the path. In the past week it appears that Head Master Dale Burden has left instructions that the fence is to be finished during his absence in Europe on a fellowship; and that the path to the farm will not be reopened.
The work done by MAGS to help build and plant a boardwalk along the creek, and to fence off and protect the upper tributary which is on their farm is very good. But now they run the risk of severing for all time the links between the two tributaries; and the pedestrian links between Mt Albert and Sandringham. The trees are already gone (see photos attached).
ACTION: If you do not agree with this - please contact STEPS (via this website) or MAGS Headmaster - mailto:dperry@mags.school.nz and cc: STEPS.
la4-kerr-taylor-tree-planting-as-amended-for-scoping
Boundary trees before felling
Boundary trees now
stephen June 6th, 2010
UPDATE ON WINSTONES QUARRY
Following on from the item below at http://www.meolacreek.org.nz/2009/07/23/changes-to-meola-three-kings-and-western-springs-aquifer/ ARC and ACC granted Winstone Aggregates Ltd a Resource Consent to carry out earthworks and contaminated site discharges associated with the development of a cleanfill site at Three Kings Quarry, Mt Eden Road, for a term of 20 years, on the 28th November 2009. STEPS, Three Kings United, SEPG, Friends of Oakley Creek, Envirowaste and others appealed.
Subsequently Winstones have applied for a new resource consent, while appeals against the 2009 application are still to be heard. Supporting documents are at http://www.winstoneaggregates.co.nz/DMS/Three_Kings_Quarry.php?id=43
Winstones already have a “dewatering” consent whereby they can pump 5000-10,000 cu m of water (approximately 1-2 Olympic pools ) per day until 2030 out of the Meola-Three Kings- Western Springs Aquifer. Instead of the water flowing naturally downhill through creeks to the Waitemata Harbour, it is now pumped over to Onehunga and flows through the waste water system and into Manukau Harbour.
In regard to the new resource consent application, STEPS is concerned that the interpretation applied to the definition of ‘clean fill’ promoted by the applicant is not properly in accord with that specified in the Proposed Auckland Regional Plan: Air Land and Water, and MfE guidelines for “Clean Fill”.
Attached are two submissions: the first is from STEPS and the Friends of Oakley Creek; the other is the combined submission of Watercare Services and Metrowater; both outline concerns about the potential contamination of the aquifer.
STEPS Three Kings Quarry Submission
Watercare’s & Metrowater’s submissions
stephen June 6th, 2010
Flooding in wetland
- Wetland flooded
Boardwalk under water
Meola Creek submerges boardwalk
See the stress Meola Creek is under when it rains and how the wetland and boardwalk are affected.
stephen June 2nd, 2010
STEPS received the Runner-up Award for Riparian Planting performed by a Community Group at the Wai Care Expo last week and was presented with a certificate and an engraved perspex trophy.
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
Tags: aquifer
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
Tags: Watercare
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.
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.
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
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.
