Attached is an assessment of the impact of the proposed activity on the environment which - a) contains the information required by clause 6 of Schedule 4 of the resource. I enclose an assessment of the proposed activity in the light of the matters set out in Part 2 of the Resource Management Act 1991.
Nāu Mai Haere Mai / Welcome
Overview and Purpose of this Application
The diagram in figure 2 below provides an overview of the wider stormwater project, of which the district-wide consent forms part. They are of fundamental importance to Tangata Whenua, highly valued by residents and visitors and crucial to the health of the environment.
Structure of Application
This report is the assessment of environmental effects (AEE) that must accompany the application for a resource permit in accordance with Section 88 and Schedule 4 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). This report describes the proposal, provides an assessment of the requirements under the RMA and the relevant statutory documents, including the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP).
Areas Covered
It then describes the status of the application, such as the applicable rules activated within Tasman. This, and the activity within the scope of application, then forms the basis for the assessment of Actual and Potential Effects in section 6.
Existing Related Consents Held
These specific consents for individual aspects of stormwater management in rivers will be retained. They are also an example of the type of work on a larger scale that will still require separate consents to be obtained in the future.
Other Consented and Permitted Activities
A number of other consents are held for specific activities and structures (including dams) in the various UDA areas. In particular, the Richmond UDA has consented to a dam and flood detention in Jimmy Lee Creek; damming and retention of flood waters in Lodestone Way; and in Reservoir Creek.
Urban Stormwater Catchment Management Framework
An overview of the current state of the stormwater environment and network, including objectives, issues and solutions. Therefore, the connection of urban watershed management plans with resource consent needs to be understood.
Scope of Application
This consent seeks to legally establish the existing stormwater network infrastructure (apart from more essential elements such as dams, weirs and major tidal control gates), the discharges from the network (including temporary maintenance discharges) and the discharges from future extensions of the network to service urban growth. Rainwater discharges from the existing network and from additional future parts of the network (where their installation is separately approved) - RMA § 15(1) a) and b).
The Stormwater Network
Also excluded from this application are works that may be necessary in rivers2 during maintenance work around drains or other parts of the network in rivers. This could include, for example, removing gravel from around a clogged outlet, or diverting running water to allow maintenance of the physical network.
The Nature of the Stormwater Discharge
During the river basin management planning for each area, the sources of contaminants, and thus the quality of stormwater, will be assessed and planned for stormwater management. The intent of the application is that stormwater runoff will be improved through this process and past results will be used to provide a level of basic knowledge and to provide information on certain contaminants of concern.
Nature of the Maintenance Discharges
Detailed results were obtained which are indicative of the present and representative uses of potential urban stormwater pollutants in these areas. The results obtained from such testing are not repeated in this application, but form the basic information that will assist the Council in determining the content of Watershed Management Plans and other actions to improve stormwater quality.
Overview
The Council undertakes regular State of the Environment (SoE) reporting which provides the key results of environmental monitoring in a number of areas across the county. Therefore, the success of actions to improve the quality of the environment can be tracked through the continuation of this.
Area and Network Descriptions
The nearest surface water features to the city are the Wai-iti and Wairoa rivers. These pits are located on the north east side of the Wairoa River outside the UDA boundaries.
Collingwood
There is some small-scale industrial activity in the township and at the western end of the UDA on the main Collingwood - Bainham road. These boreholes are located near the Aorere River upstream of the bridge and are approximately 10m deep.
Kaiteriteri
There are no commercial or industrial uses of it with only a few around the main camp area. The main surface water feature is Tasman Bay which is the main receiving environment for stormwater from this area.
Ligar Bay and Tata Beach
Small streams flow through parts of the UDA from the hillside behind, but the main body of water is the open waters of Golden Bay or the enclosed estuary at Tata Beach. Properties in Ligar Bay and Tata Beach provide their own drinking water from roof water or groundwater wells.
Mapua/Ruby Bay
In the case of the Mapua Rise area (an area of recent development at the intersection of Mapua Drive and Higgs Road), water is pumped from deep boreholes. Groundwater irrigation is a feature of the Mapua / Ruby Bay stormwater network, but these are distant from the identified wells.
Motueka
Motueka is growing west through flat land which is in rural and horticultural uses. The nearest surface water is the Motueka River to the west, Moutere Bay to the south and Tasman Bay to the east.
Murchison
The Buller River is north of the city and the Matakitaki River runs along the eastern border of the UDA. A more limited amount flows directly to the Buller River from residential and rural land in the north of the UDA.
Patons Rock
Patons Rock slopes down to the road with a flat section along the road and the coast. Residents of Patons Rock provide their own drinking water from roof water or groundwater wells.
Pohara
Part of the Pohara stormwater flows directly into the main water body of Golden Bay. There is some groundwater irrigation towards the western part of the UDA, but some distance from the well sites.
Richmond
The rest of the Urban Drainage Area consists of the existing residential areas and to the south towards Hope are the growing residential growth areas. To the south some areas go from rolling hill country to flatter country in the rural part of the UDA around Hope.
St Arnaud
The series of land Hope on the hill behind St Arnaud as a high level of erosion potential. Particularly for the St. Arnaud area, Lake Rotoiti is highly regarded for its visual amenity and recreational uses such as swimming, kayaking, sailing and boating.
Takaka
Tarakoha soils have a moderate degree of erosion potential, but represent only a small proportion of the UDA. Boreholes are identified in the northern part of the UDA near Takaka School and Rototai Road and.
Tapawera
Outside the UDA boundaries, the land use is rural, with fences on all sides. Tapawera has no surface water features within the UDA and the nearest feature is the Motueka River approximately 500m to the west.
Tasman
The land adjacent to the UDA consists of rural and horticultural uses and scattered rural dwellings. The settlement is mostly flat with a slope rising from the main road to the north.
Wakefield
The nearest surface water to the town is the Wai-iti River and Pitfure Stream. Wakefield obtains its drinking water from a well with an infiltration gallery near the Wai-iti River.
Water Conservation Order Rivers and Lakes
Overview
Consultation Stages
Consultation Results Summary
Include protection of the coastal marine area and ecosystem health in the ambitions of the strategy. Forest and Bird expressed their support for the various components of the framework, including the draft consent application, during a meeting arranged to discuss the three components of the framework.
Summary
Friends of Nelson Haven and Tasman Bay Inc expressed their support for the various parts of the framework, including the draft consent application, at a meeting organized to discuss the three parts of the framework. Nelson City Council (NCC) received drafts of the Urban Stormwater Strategy and Richmond CMP and commended TDC for the work done to date.
Applicable TRMP rules
The rule in this part of the TRMP is relevant to the existing stormwater runoff structures and pipelines located within the coastal and marine area associated with the municipality's stormwater network serving the various UDAs along the coastal fringe. The rules in this section of the TRMP are relevant to the existing stormwater drainage structures located in riverbeds or lakes and are related to the municipality's stormwater network serving the various UDAs along these areas.
Overview
Effects on Wider Community
Economic Development Council maintains storm water collection and treatment systems to minimize damage to private and public assets and this encourages development. The Council maintains stormwater collection and treatment systems to minimize disruption to normal community activities and risk to life.
Effects on Flood Carrying Capacity of the Drainage System
In a more general sense, the stormwater network is an essential infrastructure for the functioning of the county and its communities. Continuous management and improvement of the stormwater network improves the current flood control aspects of the network.
Effects on Soil Quality and Human Health
Ongoing maintenance of the existing (and future) network to prevent blockages and sediment buildup. Further improvements and a planned approach take into account the potential flood effects of additional parts of the network that will be created as urban development progresses.
Effects of Physical Ground Infiltration
With the implementation of the stormwater management measures mentioned above, it is assumed that there are no more than minor adverse effects, or potential cumulative effects on the flood carrying capacity of the stormwater system. Removing the poorly or poorly permeable layers (usually only practical or cost effective if <1.5 m deep) and replacing them with clean, freely permeable material; or.
Effects on Groundwater Quantity
Construction under drainage beneath the soil treatment medium to collect filtered rainwater and discharge it into a soaking chamber located either in an area of free-draining strata or drilled to a depth where free-draining materials are encountered. The LDM (section 5.5.15) sets out similar requirements to ensure that the viability of soaking as a disposal method is proven.
Effects on Groundwater Quality and Human Health
The quality of the water from these outlets is therefore already affected by rainwater discharge. Relevant to the existing discharges to soil through leaching is its status as part of the existing.
Effects on Surface Water Quality and Aquatic Ecology
This is due to the "cleaner" source of natural background storm water in the upper levels of most catchments providing dilution. The identified and discussed items primarily contribute to the adverse effects of the rainwater network and its discharges (both operational and maintenance) on water quality in the freshwater receiving environment.
Effects on Coastal Waters and Environment
Its location in the context of the stormwater outlet is consistent with this much larger coastal protection scheme. Maintenance required after storm events is also very likely required in other areas of coastal protection and will be carried out in conjunction with this.
Effects on Māori Cultural Values
Iwi are kaitiaki of the catchments and responsible for protecting the mauri of all waters. Stormwater management plays a key role in the health of the environment and the various receiving waters.
Amenity and Recreational Effects
The visual effects of these reduce to some extent the natural character of the coastal and coastal environment. In relation to the harmful effects of stormwater discharge itself, this is also an expected part of urban stormwater management.
Effects Summary
As mentioned above, the rainwater network and associated discharges are a necessary part of the development of the urban environment. There are less than minor negative effects on amenity values, including of existing coastal structures, because they are an expected part of the network.
Overview
However, this is a fantastic situation as downloads should and will continue to happen as part of the existing environment. So, while the negative effects of the storm water and discharge network on cultural issues are more than minor, it is recognized that an improved outcome is required.
Water Sensitive Design (WSD)
The effects experienced from urban areas in the Tasman region are typical of the effects of urban stormwater discharges across the country. Improvements in the management of these and of the quality of discharges will result in improvements in facilities and recreational outcomes.
Regulatory
The key principles associated with WSD are: .. a) Use an interdisciplinary planning and design process b) Protect and enhance natural systems and their values c) Address (and avoid) the effects of stormwater near the source d) Mimic natural processes for storm water management.
Physical Network Improvements
Overview
However, there are a number of options that can be explored through the development of the Catchment Management Plans that form part of this proposal. This statutory assessment section of this consent application considers the various matters in the order set out in section 104(1) of the RMA.
Section 104 RMA
This pushes the consideration of alternatives back to smaller incremental changes to the existing network that, over time, will improve the outcomes experienced. These changes will be identified through a review of the best practical option within each catchment and will be based on the particular characteristics of these areas.
National Environmental Standard
The only drinking water supply that is drawn from surface water near any of the UDAs is at Winter Creek in Pohara, but this is upstream from the UDA and unaffected by stormwater runoff. Motueka does have drinking water from the groundwater and also has rainwater drainage by infiltration to the ground in this area.
Water Conservation Orders
Application of this provision is not necessary as the discharge will be in accordance with the above clauses. Discharges are small in volume compared to the wider watershed, are not discharged directly into rivers or lakes, and originate in small, low-density residential communities with limited industrial or commercial activities.
National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2014
However, the municipality is aware of the possibility that this can happen and is taking steps to reduce this risk and thus ensure the quality of this freshwater source. Iwi has been invited to engage with the Council during the development of this proposal and the Council's broader stormwater planning strategy.
New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS)
This policy recognizes that in some cases infrastructure (and other activities) have a functional need to be located within the coastal environment. As indicated in Policy 6, it is recognized that some uses have a functional need to be located in the coastal environment.
Tasman Regional Policy Statement
The catchment-by-catchment approach is reflected in the proposal to develop Catchment Management Plans. In summary, the proposal set out in the resource consent application is considered to be consistent with the objectives and policies of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010.
Tasman Resource Management Plan Objectives and Policies
There are no increased adverse impacts on the natural character of the area from those that have already occurred. This application does not make any changes that would adversely affect the natural character and landscape of the CMA.
Stormwater Activity Management Plan 2015-2045
Consider long-term stormwater runoff management for land development, including subdivision and land use change.
Part II RMA
The main objective of the project is to maintain and improve the quality of the environment. This consent and the voluntary terms relate to these matters and are therefore in accordance with Section 7 of the RMA.
Section 105 and 107 RMA
Consultations with iwi have taken place throughout the development of the Urban Stormwater Catchment Strategy and throughout this consent process. Iwi will also have the opportunity to be involved in the development of the CMPs for each specific urban area.
Section 95 – Notification
The nature and sensitivity of the affected environment, including: a) the risk of unforeseen negative effects arising from the approved activity; We treat the effects of stormwater as close to the source of the problem as possible.
