Earthworks and Streamworks Monitoring
- Client Name
- Auckland Council Licensing & Regulatory
- Location
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Environmental management, permitting & compliance
Challenge
The growing rate of development across New Zealand, and particularly Auckland, has placed great pressure on local government consenting and regulatory bodies. Environmental compliance for both the regulator and the developer is often a challenging endeavour due to Auckland’s complex geography and geology. We are providing assistance to Auckland Council to ensure that large-scale earthworks and streamworks operations are undertaken in accordance with resource consent requirements and other environmental regulations.
Solution
SLR was engaged by the Environmental Monitoring team within the Licensing & Regulatory Department at the Council to provide compliance monitoring services and on the ground monitoring support. Our Environmental Management Consultants are highly experienced in erosion and sediment control (ESC) and best practice standards, as well as having full knowledge of local government regulatory processes. This project has seen our team monitor numerous developments facing challenging or complex ESC issues, often at immediate notice, while also supporting Council Environmental Monitoring Officers with their compliance assessments.
We are also assisting in training and upskilling newly hired Senior Earthworks and Streamworks Monitoring Officers at the Council. We designed and implemented new training process enabling Council staff to effectively monitor developments comprising large-scale earthworks and streamworks.
Impact
Ensuring works are undertaken correctly within the regulatory environment is important to mitigate the effect on the local environment, and supports the facilitation of development in a safe and controlled manner. For example, we are able to limit sedimentation in our waterways, which can lead to damage to habitats and greatly inhibit the reproductive cycle for our marine life, as well as loss of amenity for our communities. In addition, by assisting the Council with training and monitoring, we are helping to prevent unwanted discharges.