Urban Streams
Only 5% of our urban streams are visible and the remaining 525km are treated like drains beneath our roads and footpaths. We’re working to fix this
We’re repairing the sewer outfall into Kaiwharawhara stream
We’ve set aside
$50k
for Houghton Valley and the Haewai Catchment
We’re working with nature to reduce flooding through the Blue Network Plan
Greater Wellington, Wellington City, and Porirua City Council signed Te Wai Ora o Parirua (The Porirua Harbour Accord) to progress the restoration of the health of Porirua Harbour.
Cleaning up our urban
streams
Clean urban streams keep ecosystems thriving, keep our waters safe for swimming and collecting mahinga kai, and mean we can leave our environment better than we found it.
Run off from roofs, sediment, road dust, brake pads and tyre scunge are some of the many contaminants that pollute these underground waterways and the critters who live in them.
Plumbing cross connections are where residential stormwater or waste pipes are connected to the wrong network. Stormwater flowing into a wastewater drain can overflow in heavy rain and cause serious pollution. It’s even worse when wastewater pipes connect to stormwater drains. We need to identify and fix these connections.
We can help fix all this by preventing pollution in the first place and building up natural systems that slow water down after rainfall, filter it and then release it to the sea. We’re talking about rain gardens, swales, bush clad streams and coastal wetlands. The good news is this is happening now and we can accelerate it.
We’re working with nature to reduce flooding through the Blue Network Plan that has increased planting to soak up rainfall, make Wellington more of a sponge city and protect our marine environment.
A great example of this is the work we’ve already done in Garrett Street and Swan Lane. We’ve installed three rain gardens here that helps collect water during flood events, and filter out pollution before it joins our stormwater network.
Image Credit: John Fillmore Contracting
We support freshwater catchment groups around the Wellington Region to connect local communities with their streams. Community led projects create stronger bonds between people and their local environment as well as stronger bonds between community members themselves.
Groups like the Papawai Stream have successfully received funding for the work they do to keep our freshwater streams thriving.
We’ve also set aside $50k for a plan to improve the health of the Houghton Valley / Haewai catchment through planting and restoration work as a pilot for other old landfill sites that pollute our coast.
