Urban Development
Achieving sustainable urbanisation requires us to minimise the impacts of population and tourism growth through the application of global best practice for all aspects of water management. This includes stormwater, water infrastructure and wastewater treatment.
Below is the list of actions related to urban development as identified in the Community Catchment Plan. The actions show the current status of progress and who is responsible for their achievement.


Business Environmental Plans
Encourage and support development of Business Environmental Plans (for all businesses and industries) that identify risk areas in terms of effects on environment.
Encourage and support development of Business Environmental Plans (for all businesses and industries) that identify risk areas in terms of effects on environment e.g. water use, discharges (including those into Council wastewater and stormwater networks), sustainability measures, on and off-site practices (e.g. sediment management on constructions sites, storage of hazardous substances).
Note: directions on what to include still to be developed
Progress
The current QLDC Trade Waste Bylaw does cover this action to some degree, and this will be further emphasised as part of the integrated bylaw proposal.
Implementation
Funding through QLDC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process.




Behaviour change to meet the environmental goals
Encourage and support an increase of awareness and behaviour change by residents and visitors to meet the environmental goals.
Progress
- Encouraging farmers to tell their story and engage with the wider community.
- Established Grounded, a community Environmental Action Group with Kahu Youth.
- Take a Walk on the Wild Side – Connection to Nature Survey.
Implementation
WAI Wānaka communication and engagement strategy.


Business system change and environmental initiatives
Collaborative engagement and communication with the wider community on business system change and environmental initiatives.
Progress
- WAI Wānaka communicates with QLDC on a monthly basis.
- Community engagement meetings between farmers, urban and other stakeholders including ORC, DoC, LINZ, Contact Energy etc
- Community Agreement being drafted with DoC



First flush stormwater
Advocate for the treatment of first flush stormwater for all developments and existing subdivisions discharging into waterways or the Council’s network using best management practices and water sensitive urban design approaches.
Ensure monitoring of treatment’s and practices’ effectiveness is undertaken.
Progress
Wānaka Water Project stormwater research and outcomes presented to ORC and QLDC. Research findings are an ongoing source of information for all parties.
The QLDC Land Development and Subdivision Code of Practice (CoP) encourages the use of low impact treatment designs in new development. The CoP is also currently under further review.
Implementation
Input into ORC processes will be ongoing as part of submissions on notified consent applications.





Stormwater design guidelines
Recommend development of stormwater design guidelines for QLDC district which are specific to the issues here – e.g. soil types, rainfall patterns and volumes, receiving water quality standards.
Progress
Does exist in the CoP but also being further reviewed.
Implementation
Funding through QLDC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process.


Stormwater research
Support further research into current stormwater quality and impacts on receiving water quality to help guide what treatment is appropriate in Upper Clutha.
Particular focus is on the behaviours of contaminants in the Roys Bay area of Lake Wānaka which receives a high proportion of Wānaka’s stormwater discharges.
Progress
QLDC has already commenced stormwater monitoring, with further work to come. Stormwater quality modelling work underway. See research commissioned by WAI Wānaka.
Implementation
As part of ORC’s and QLDC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process.






Treatment systems for existing stormwater discharges
Investigate and adopt best options for retrofitting treatment systems to existing stormwater discharges and to creating wetland solutions.
Progress
Likely to be done over time dependent on action #12 and #13 above.
Implementation
Funding through QLDC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process.
AUG 2022: QLDC Comments – This will be an on-going piece of work. All new projects consider SW treatment (examples being Stone St SW main, QT Arterial project, Lakeview development). The current Ten Year Plan has funding of $12.5m allocated for SW treatment improvements across the district. These budgets are available from Year 4 (24/25 FY).


Erosion & Sediment Control Plans
Encourage the preparation and implementation of Erosion & Sediment Control (E&SC) Plans for all developments.
Progress
QLDC’s Guidelines for Environmental Management Plans was formally accepted by Council and have been utilised during the resource consenting process since June 2019. Available on QLDC website.
Implementation
ORC Plan change.



Sediment management education programme
Create education programme for developers, builders and earthworks contractors on sediment management, in coordination with ORC – include workshops, E&SC plan development guidance, monitoring/maintenance recommendations.
Progress
The QLDC Monitoring, Enforcement and Environmental Compliance team have been actively educating contractors, consultants, builders and internal staff in relation to environmental management practices when undertaking land development activities over the past 24 months. This has included educational flyers and emails being sent to these parties. Additionally, workshops are being considered pending interest from the development community, additional internal staff training is being sourced.




Wastewater discharges & treatment
Advocate for all wastewater discharges to be treated and discharged to land so that freshwater objectives are achieved, with no overflows to land where it may enter water. Also advocate for wastewater treatment sites to be compliant with ORC consent conditions.


Management of urban development
Advocate for urban development to be managed so that there is no adverse impact on water quality or aquatic ecosystems. This includes no increase in pre-development flows so waterways don’t receive serious erosion as a result of higher flows in rainfall events.
Progress
Stormwater flows from new urban development are managed through the QLDC CoP and/or the ORC Regional Water Plan. This action needs further discussion as it relates closely to a number of actions above.
Implementation
Ongoing as part of submissions on notified consent applications; and proposed plans, plan changes, or policy statement process.






Wetland advocacy
Advocate for there to be no urban development where it may affect water quality, water quantity or biodiversity of the wetland. Advocate for wetland creation as sites for enhancing quality of urban run-off.


Wetland creation for urban run-off
Advocate for wetland creation as sites for enhancing quality of urban run-off.
Implementation
To be aligned with National Policy with ongoing input into ORC and QLDC processes.
AUG 2022: ORC comments – The science team is currently undergoing work to identify areas that could be or have been wetlands due to their hydrology. The results of this work will help with achieving this CCP action.






Rainwater tanks
Encourage the installation of rainwater tanks in all urban buildings or structures.
Progress
QLDC currently progressing through a website upgrade, with links proposed to educational resources on water conservation, pollution prevention, stormwater quality and other related aspects. Further discussion required on the benefits.
To view current info about water conservation on the QLDC website, click here.
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of consultation and notification on the new Land and Water Plan for the region.