Integrated Catchment Management Within an Adaptive Consent Framework

A challenge that faces all stormwater network managers is finding the appropriate balance between good environmental outcomes and cost effective solutions. The resource consent process can lead to controls being placed on discharges through consent conditions that limit flexibility, does not provide for advancement in knowledge, or limits consent duration.

Faced with a short-term resource consent and the associated uncertainty, Dunedin City Council (DCC) were exploring a consent regime that provided a long term solution that is able to adapt to changes in knowledge, the environment and community priorities. Over the last five years DCC has developed an integrated catchment management program that includes stormwater network investigations, flow modelling and discharge monitoring. These studies informed 10 integrated catchment management plans (ICMP) for the city that prioritise all future stormwater management actions.

These ICMP, and the issue prioritisation process contained within, formed the basis for DCC’s adaptive management consenting approach. While ICMP and adaptive management are not new concepts, combined they provide a consent framework that builds on water quality monitoring results and responds to environmental bottom lines while giving DCC the flexibility to adapt their stormwater management processes to be cost effective and meet stakeholder expectations.