MEDIA STATEMENT
20 May 2004

Extreme Make-Over For Auckland Waterways

IA announced today it is making $45 million available for “extreme-makeovers” of several major streams, ponds and estuaries in the Auckland region.

The grants will go towards projects by Waitakere, Auckland and Manukau City Councils, as well as Franklin District Council, Unitec and The Grange Golf Club for improvements to stormwater systems.

The biggest recipient is Waitakere City Council, set to receive $22.8 million from IA for its Waikumete and Opanuku streams projects. The projects will clean-up the streams, make them more attractive to residents and recreational users, and remove contaminants.

“Many parts of these streams are currently treated as landfills rather than recreational areas”, says IA Chairman John Robertson. “We want to turn them from tips into playgrounds”.

Four Auckland City Council projects are being funded to separate stormwater and wastewater flows at Pt Chevalier, Motions Creek, Orakei Basin and Upland Road.

“Aucklanders are proud of their freshwater and marine environments”, says John Robertson. “It is unacceptable that recreational users should catch waterborne diseases from our rivers and estuaries”.

Most of the grants made today were originally submitted for the March funding round. They were deferred until completion of the Stormwater Busienss Plan – a joint IA and ARC intitiative that will provide smarter, more affordable and longer-term solutions for stormwater in the Auckland region.

Ends.

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