Auckland Council

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Welcome

In our February edition we provide:

details of the upcoming site visit by the Auckland Council Omaha project team and our design consultants
an update on the Omaha stormwater projects
information on Water Sensitive Design

This will be valuable in keeping you up to date on what’s happening in your area.

Key actions since the December newsletter:

construction on the Paraoa Crescent flooding alleviation project is now underway
Omaha project staff met with the Omaha Beach Committee at the beginning of February to discuss key areas of concern, including the ponds in Rahui Te Kiri / Pukemateko Reserves. An update will be included on these issues in the next newsletter, once we have had time to review the information gathered.

If you have friends or family interested in receiving our updates, please forward this email to them to sign up; details at the bottom of this newsletter.

Alternatively, if you do not wish to continue receiving this communication you can unsubscribe here.

Upcoming Omaha project site visit

Do you live on Omaha Drive in close proximity to the boat ramp, or on Day Dawn Crescent, Thistle Terrace, Darroch Slope, Parry Court, or Lagoon Way?

If yes and you are interested in learning more about the applicable project sites, join the Auckland Council Omaha team and our design consultants on Friday 2 March 2018 as we walk over the sites.

For more details, please email us at omahaproject@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

For residents who don't live in the above project areas, we will be hosting a drop-in information session sometime in May 2018. More information on this event will be in the next newsletter.

Paraoa Crescent project update

This project is designed to relieve the major Paraoa Crescent road flooding and enable year-round access through the reserve to the beach.

On 12 February 2018 Downer began construction work on the new stormwater infrastructure intended for Paraoa Crescent.

The path through the reserve to the beach will be closed throughout the whole 8 week construction period to allow for building of the new stormwater pipe across the roadway into the wetland, followed by the replacement boardwalk.

The health and safety of the community is of utmost importance to Auckland Council and Downer. If you have any questions or concerns about the Paraoa Crescent site work, please contact Andre Nol, Downer Project Engineer, on 027 543 6367. If you have questions about the project itself, you're welcome to email us at omahaproject@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Image below taken from the reserve looking towards Paraoa Crescent.

Auckland Council's Healthy Waters Department projects

The most up-to-date information on each project is as follows:

Omaha Drive and Boat Ramp

The purpose of this project is to address flooding of Omaha Drive and numerous private properties in the vicinity of the boat ramp, as well as erosion of the beach around the ramp.

We intend for our design consultants to begin the engineering design process for this project in March 2018. The proposed three month construction period for this project will begin near the end of 2018 and finish before the start of the peak summer period. Closer to the time, if we believe construction will not be able to be finished in time to avoid the summer peak, we will delay the construction start date to accommodate this.

The consultants will consider two design options. The preferred one would involve construction occuring only in public property, with the proposed new infrastructure beginning approximately outside 245 Omaha Drive, moving down the public roadway to the boat ramp carpark, then through the carpark and out to the coast.

Darroch Slope

The purpose of this project is to address flooding issues resulting in ponding in small local reserves, as well as private property flooding in Darroch Slope, Jane Gifford Place, and Southern Isle.

Our consultants will begin engineering design for this project in March 2018.

Day Dawn Crescent/Thistle Terrace

This project is intended to address overland flow path flooding and standing water in these streets caused by poor soakage in the reserve at the southern end of Day Dawn Crescent.

Please note that some of this work will occur on private property and we'll be seeking landowner approvals for this.

Our consultants will begin engineering design for this project in March 2018.

Parry Court/Lagoon Way

This project is aimed at reducing surface flooding on Parry Court and Lagoon Way, and implement an overland flow path solution draining into the dunes.

Our consultants will begin engineering design for this project in March 2018.

Assorted Works

These assorted works will address issues causing flood hotspots in the vicinity of The Esplanade Reserve and roadway median strips throughout Omaha.

This work will be done in conjunction with the above priority projects.

Water Sensitive Design: raingardens

Water Sensitive Design is an approach focused on protecting, enhancing, and mimicking natural systems and processes to reduce stormwater runoff and manage stormwater quality.

This article is the second in our Water Sensitive Design series, which aims to provide you with ideas to consider when managing stormwater on your private property.

What is a raingarden?

Over the past fifteen years, raingardens have become an increasingly popular method to manage stormwater. You probably see raingardens regularly in your daily life without even realising it!

There's more than first meets the eye when it comes to raingardens. They are constructed by excavating to a minimum depth of one metre, then backfilling the excavation with a raingarden soil mix (typically a sandy loam type) that's specifically designed to filter out pollutants and maximise stormwater soakage into the ground. Native plant species suitable for a raingarden environment are then densely planted to absorb stormwater, slow the speed of the stormwater flow, and to enhance the look of the raingarden.

An appropriately located and well-constructed raingarden could form a valuable piece of the stormwater management puzzle on your private property.

Where can I put a raingarden on my property?

In many areas where conventional landscaping may be your first thought, you may like to consider incorporating a raingarden as part of the design. During the decision process, it's important to remember that the stormwater management benefits of raingardens can be maximised by placing them downstream from large impervious surfaces, such as a patio or driveway.

We have created a fact sheet on raingardens and their installation that you may find helpful, and reputable landscapers should be able to provide you with advice specific to your property.

If you have an existing raingarden, you may be interested in our raingarden maintenance fact sheet.

Omaha known issues map and investigative reports

Click here to view enlarged map.

The majority of the work shown will be managed by Healthy Waters, while the work in Omaha's reserves will be carried out by Community Facilities (formerly Parks).

If you believe there is a historic issue not recorded on the map, please contact us at omahaproject@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz so we can update our records.

Investigative reports

Two investigative reports were commissioned regarding the Omaha flooding issues. These are available to view here.

Thumbnail of the Omaha known issues map, showing the peninsula with red and yellow dots to indicate issues.

Frequently asked questions

If I have a new stormwater service requirement or maintenance request, who do I contact?

If there is an immediate risk to life or property contact the Fire Service on 111.

If you have a new stormwater service request please contact the Auckland Council call centre (09) 301 0101 so a request for service (RFS) can be raised.

Who should I contact if I have questions about the newsletter and/or the stormwater works in Omaha?

You can contact the project team at omahaproject@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. We endeavour to reply to your emails as soon as possible, although we may need to confer with a variety of specialists to properly answer your questions and this can sometimes cause delays. We thank you for your patience during this process.

When will the next newsletter be released?

According to our bimonthly newsletter schedule, the next edition is planned for the end of April.

If you know of anyone who would like to keep up-to-date with the ongoing stormwater works progress, please forward them this email and let them know they can click here to subscribe to the Omaha newsletter.

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