Water Quality Of Streams And Beaches Still A Top City Priority
April 28, 2005
The 'three waters' - water supply, stormwater and wastewater (sewerage) - continue to be a major focus for North Shore
City over the coming financial year.
The council's budgets and work programmes for the year are set out in its Draft 2005 - 2006 Annual Plan, circulated over
the past month throughout the city - and inviting public feedback.
North Shore City Council received a total of 295 submissions up to last night (Wednesday 27th).
Although most of the work the council does for the three water services is beneath your feet, and is therefore out of
sight, many of the key tasks involve major construction projects, each with the aim of improving or reducing the impact
on the city's environment.
Examples are the ongoing expansion and improvements to the Browns Bay sewer network and upgrades to key facilities such
as the Browns Bay, Wairau, Seabreeze and Margery pumping stations.
Along with the new work, the city needs to cater for continuing growth, but also needs to continually repair and replace
networks as they age.
Water supply systems deliver high quality drinking water throughout the city, and the network is steadily upgraded,
renewed and extended.
Stormwater projects also have a top priority, and much of the work being done reduces the threat of flooding, erosion
and water pollution. Work continues on extending and upgrading the network, and on repairs and improvements.
Wastewater (sewerage) improvement is also significant, with many major projects being initiated in the new financial
year, and others completed within the Project CARE programme, a $210 million, 10-year programme to improve beach and
stream water quality.
Within the wastewater category, Project Rosedale is involved with the upgrading of the treatment plant. The council has
currently under way considerable planning and preparation for the building of a new tunnel and sea outfall, which will
take treated effluent from the wastewater treatment plant's ponds 2.6km out to sea.
Expenditure for the 'three waters' includes:
* Wastewater: transport and treatment of wastewater (sewage) including Project CARE and Project Rosedale:
operating expenses $27.4m; capital expenditure $28.5m;
* Stormwater: prevention of flooding, erosion and ensuring stream and beach water quality meets agreed
standards: operating expenses $11.5m; capital expenditure $9.7m;
* Water supply and distribution: operating expenses $18.3m; capital expenditure $5.2m.
"Our water services division's capital investment totals $43.4m, with a major portion of this being made to maintain our
focus on improving beach and stream water quality," infrastructure and environment committee chairperson, Tony Barker,
says.
"The effects of this ongoing work within Project CARE have already seen wet weather overflow events significantly
reduced," he says.
People had a month to give feedback on the draft plan, which sets out the council's priorities for the second year of
the 2004-2014 City Plan, featuring a billion-dollar capital works programme over the next decade.
An average rates increase of 6.99 per cent is proposed for next year to pay for new assets and maintain existing
services in one of the faster-growing parts of New Zealand.
The council's hearings committee will meet during May to hear submissions, with North Shore City councillor Heather
Brown in the chair. Any changes will be reflected in the final, approved plan for the year 2005 - 2006, which will be
adopted on June 29.
(ends)