Water Sensitive Design: A Strategic Approach to Managing Stormwater in Auckland

Water sensitive design (WSD) underpins the approach preferred by Auckland Council for the management of stormwater. The objectives, policies and rules of the Auckland Unitary Plan support this approach for both greenfield and brownfield developments. In turn, this approach supports the vision of the Auckland Plan – for transformational shifts and for Auckland to be the World’s most liveable city.

WSD is the latest manifestation of an evolving story of stormwater management, from the combined sewers of early Auckland; through awareness of growing flooding problems; to catchment scale treatment of stormwater for quality purposes and now to the trans-disciplinary approach of WSD to managing urban stormwater.

Auckland Council’s amalgamation has provided a unifying structure by which to provide better Local Government services in Auckland. The Government’s emphasis on the delivery of integrated services for customers, underpinned by the Managing for Outcomes strategic management framework; and the expectation of leadership throughout organizations requires a strategic approach that is applied across all facets of service planning and delivery.

WSD is an outcome-focused approach to stormwater management. The outcomes identified by the community include healthy urban streams which provide natural and social capital, while serving as part of the stormwater network, improved water quality in our harbours and reversal of the degradation known in some estuaries. To achieve these outcomes in an intensifying and growing city, stormwater must be managed appropriately to minimize changes in hydrology and avoid transportation and deposition of contaminants to the streams and harbours, all of which can be achieved through the water sensitive design approach.

This paper will trace the evolution of stormwater management in Auckland; will show how strategic planning has been part of this process for the last 30 years, and how water sensitive design is the natural progression for stormwater management in Auckland and others of the World’s most liveable cities.