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.
Liz May 18th, 2009
Morphum Environmental Ltd has been awarded this years IPENZ Arthur Mead award for the Environment and Sustainability (small projects) for their work on the Roy Clements Treeway Boardwalk Project. This award is for the application of environmental awareness to the solution of an engineering problem. The award was presented at the IPENZ (Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand) presidents dinner this Wednesday.
Caleb Clarke told STEPS that “The success of this project lies in no small part to your passion and energy in collaborating and contributing along the way. On behalf of Morphum, many thanks to STEPS and Waicare for your work and congratulations for the success.”
Congratulations to Morpheum on the award!
Tags: Roy Clements Treeway
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
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:
- 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
- We challenge Watercare Services statements about adequate capacity - when we all know that waste water and stormwater overflow here many times a year
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
meolacreek April 7th, 2009
The first stage of the Meola creek walkway has been completed in the Roy Clements Treeway on Mt Albert Grammar School grounds. A boardwalk was built by Metrowater, and native plantings were carried out by volunteers including STEPS, under the direction of Melissa Marler.
Within a month or two of completion the boardwalk and new weir had already shown their value as these pictures taken in February 09 show. And the plants are surviving the extremes of wet and dry they experience.
The weir will enable more water to filter through to the aquifer.
Another planting programme is planned for this winter - starting on the weekend of 9-10 May 2009.
Watch this space for more details.
Tags: Metrowater
meolacreek March 19th, 2009
Nick Goldwater, Deputy Chair of STEPS will speak at the Meola Reef picnic Saturday, 21 March. STEPS members are very pleased to join with other community groups and people who care for the Meola creek and estuary.
Tags: auckland city, Nick Goldwater
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.
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
