Stormwater improvements planned for Eastside
“Investing in infrastructure is critical to protecting our environment and enabling the development of residential growth that our city needs,” says Infrastructure and Environmental Solutions, Deputy Chief Executive Stavros Michael.
“The upgrades to infrastructure, especially stormwater, happening across the city are part of Council’s 30-year Infrastructure Strategy that focusses on ensuring Rotorua has reliable, sustainable and efficient infrastructure to support our community as it continues to grow.”
“With ongoing partnerships and support from Central Government, upgrades such as these will be happening more and more regularly during the next few years.”
The proposed dams will be located in the currently undeveloped land above Morey Street. They are designed to manage the stormwater runoff from the upper catchment as it flows into the downstream stormwater network. During more significant rain events (storms, cyclones etc) stormwater will build up behind the embankment (like a pond) and once the rain event passes, the stormwater will continue to flow through a pipe in a controlled manner until the dam empties. By holding this water back, flood risks downstream are reduced.
The proposed dams will not only help to manage stormwater runoff from new developments but will help to reduce any existing flooding that residents may currently experience during heavy rain events.
A significant part of this project is the consideration of the quality of the stormwater. Council is working alongside Eastside hapū and landowners Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands on a co-design process to develop a wetland that will help to improve the quality of the stormwater runoff from upstream developments before it enters the downstream network and Lake Rotorua.
Prior to work beginning Council must submit resource consents to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council. It is expected that the Resource Consent process will be complete by mid-2022. It is expected that the proposed dams would take about 6 – 8 months to build.
Residents with questions about the work can find out more at www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/stormwater or contact Council on 07 348 4199 or via info@rotorualc.nz
Letters have also been sent to residents with homes along the downstream catchment next to the proposed dam location and below Morey Street.