As we come to the end of our third week at Level 4, I hope you’re all still managing okay in your bubbles and staying safe. As I write this its pouring with rain, but we have been lucky overall with the weather during this lockdown. It’s been noticed that as people and families are looking to get out and about for fresh air and exercise, Tamaki Drive particularly is getting very busy. I’m working with the Orakei Local Board and Auckland Transport to look at the possibility of creating temporary separated areas for walkers and cyclists along Tamaki Drive from Ngapipi Road to Kohimarama Road, creating a bit of extra space for pedestrians so they can keep the 2 m distance and potentially a designated cycle lane so they would not need to share the footpath. AT are currently investigating options for this, with no loss of vehicle lanes and hopefully we’ll see something in place soon, for the remainder of Level 4 and throughout Level 3.
In non-Covid news, and for a change of pace, I wanted to provide an update on the great work happening in our area to improve water quality. You might recall that fast-tracking water quality improvements was an important part of the 10-year budget we signed off in June. The Water Quality Targeted Rate is enabling an additional $256 million of investment and has allowed us to get started on the Eastern Beaches from Parnell to Glendowie, Newmarket and the Tamaki Estuary, six years earlier than initially planned.
As with just about everything else, Level 4 restrictions have had an impact on planned works across the region and are causing delays for many of our projects. A major environmental enhancement project was due to start in Portland Road this month, starting with clearing the vegetation that restricts and blocks Portland Stream, and followed by removal of sediment in the stream channel. In autumn next year, we’ll be planting 15,000 native plants, which will significantly improve the ecology of the area. The silt from the stream will be used to create a land feature in Waitaramoa Reserve, reducing the carbon footprint of the project, and waste to landfill. In the Portland Road sub-catchment, 80% of stormwater network screening investigations have now been completed.
Another priority area is the Newmarket sub-catchment. In the commercial areas, the networks are deep and complex, so water sampling access can be very challenging for our teams. The high-tech solution is CCTV, used to conduct network investigations of public stormwater and wastewater networks to identify contaminants and track them to their source. Further investigations are underway in the wider catchment area.
At Hobson Bay, Hapua stream is the biggest concern, and is being prioritized for network investigations. Our teams are carrying out dye testing of private wastewater drainage in this area and CCTV investigations are nearing completion. Planning is underway to remove accumulated sediment and mangroves that cause water to hold in Hapua Stream in low tide.
Although Level 4 restrictions have been disruptive for our projects, council staff are working hard to make sure all of our core services are still ticking along throughout lockdown. Animal control are taking priority calls, our noise control officers are attending with health and safety measures in place, and building and resource consents are still being processed remotely.
If you have any areas of concern or feel I can assist in any way, please do not hesitate in contacting me.
Stay safe,
Desley