Resolution reached on Murphy’s Creek impasse

After four years of meetings and discussions, residents living along Murphy’s Creek and Council have found a mutually satisfactory way to manage future stormwater flow into the creek.

Residents had expressed great concern when Council initially sought to expand on its existing consent to discharge stormwater into Murphy’s Creek to accommodate future residential growth to the north-west of Springlands.

Residents had favoured a $2.5M option piping untreated stormwater directly to the Taylor River.

A broad stakeholder group representing residents, businesses and iwi, with technical and scientific expertise, was formed to examine the issues. Ten options were considered over a 12-month period involving field trips and workshops.

The option that councillors at yesterday’s Council Assets and Services Committee meeting endorsed would limit runoff from newly rezoned land to the same level as if the land was still in rural use. Run-off from businesses at the eastern end of Middle Renwick Road will be filtered and treated before being diverted direct to the Taylor River, and there will be water treatment included in the Murphy’s Road stormwater upgrade to improve the quality of the water that does go into Murphy’s Creek.

Mayor John Leggett, who has been part of the stakeholder group, says the level of consultation and discussion has been extremely thorough and the option finally settled upon was the unanimous choice of everyone who attended the last workshop.

“The input from the Cawthron Institute has been invaluable, not just their ecological research but their willingness to get alongside the residents and business owners and absorb their concerns. Everyone who committed to this process has developed a real understanding of the ecological and engineering factors that have had to be taken into account.”

“I want to pay tribute to those who’ve given their time and energy to work with Council on what was a very challenging matter to resolve. It’s shown how it’s possible to engage with people on complex technical matters and find satisfactory solutions.”

Funding for the project would be considered in next year’s review of Council’s Long Term Plan.

ENDS.

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