Writing Catchment Management Plans: Threading Planning Inputs though to Action Outputs and Monitoring of Outcomes - A Practical Approach

This paper describes the results of applying best practice to the preparation of an ICMP. Among other things, it shows that maintaining a narrative linkage from plan recommendations and outcomes back to the contributing information and identification of issues and objectives can clarify and enhance the value of the technical work done and enable better monitoring of outputs and outcomes of the ICMP.

The finding described were established from a review that Papakura District Council (PDC) commissioned of its Central Papakura Integrated Catchment Management Plan (ICMP) in order to establish a robust format for completing Council’s ICMP programme for the District. The brief was to review:

1. Objectives and Outcomes: how well the ICMP aims aligned with the requirements of PDC, Auckland Regional Council (ARC) and regional best practice;

2. Catchment Planning Inputs: material relevant to ICMP preparation, information used and how well it related to the required outcomes;

3. Catchment Planning Outputs: how the conclusions drawn informed stormwater management practices, responses to development pressures and infrastructure improvements.

Taking a collaborative approach, PDC staff worked with reviewers to apply learnings from over 12 years of research into best practice plan preparation by the Planning Under Co-operative Mandates (PUCM) research team.