Advanced Stormwater Planning for Rapid Growth

Lincoln Township (population of 2,700), a rural community within Selwyn District has been identified as an area of significant growth in the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy, with population predicted to increase to 10,000 by 2041.

The Selwyn District Council (SDC) wants to ensure that the growth is sympathetic to the town’s existing character, is sustainable and the unique soil conditions, critical to ongoing agriculture enterprises, are protected. To achieve this objective the Council took the original approach of commissioning a Structure Plan and an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan, in parallel and in collaboration.

The Structure Plan, developed with the SDC Planning Team, addressed the issues of growth targets, integrating existing developments and an overall urban design vision. The Integrated Stormwater Plan, developed with the SDC Strategic Asset Management Team, focused on treatment and management, catchment attributes and delivery of a global stormwater discharge consent.

The two work streams functioned independently during the data collection and options development phases but with intermediate alignment workshops to create healthy tension and promote a consistent vision. Combined stakeholder public consultation reinforced the message of integration to the community.

Integrated stormwater management solutions included centralised stormwater treatment, improvement to riparian conditions and provision for climate-change.