Urban Irrigation Policies & Practices in New Zealand

A report on tour of New Zealand local councils

Dr Bhakti DeviCity of Sydney

Acknowledgement

CRC for Irrigation Futures

NZ tour objectives NZ tour outputs &

outcomes NZ tour stops–

overview & highlights Conclusions

Overview

Fact finding and learning about urban irrigation policies and practices of NZ local councils & water utilities.

Introducing urban irrigation benchmarking tool (WASP) to local councils & water supply agencies.

Understanding the relevance of the urban irrigation benchmarking in the local context.

Developing connections with strategic planners and park managers of NZ local councils.

Tour objectives

2 weeks spent 2 islands of NZ covered 5 tour stops 8 meetings convened 15 local councils

reached 4 regional councils

connected with 5 water utilities

reached

NZ Tour – Outputs & Outcomes

2) Tauranga3) Kapiti Coast

1) Auckland

4) Wellington

5) Christchurch

Recent amalgamation of Auckland City with 6 neighbouring councils.

4,219 parks covering 83,164 hectares or 16.6 per cent of the Auckland land area.   

550 summer and winter sports grounds within its 63 sports parks.

Annual operational budget over $155m.

Auckland Council owns the water supply agency (Watercare).

Auckland Region - Overview

Regional open space strategy – an integrated management of the regional open space network.

Watercare – 15% water demand reduction target (by 2025).

Auckland Council – one of the high water users – Parks water use significant.

Domestic water use – peak demand in summer an issue.

Gap in urban irrigation demand management program.

Potential for WASP application – Council & Watercare

Auckland Region - Highlights

Tauranga Council - Overview

19 active reserves.    Annual operational

budget for parks & reserves $17 million.

Council owns the water supply agency (City Waters).

Sportsfields irrigated using bore water (un-metered).

Parks under pressure from facilities expansion/growth.

Early stages of demand management – metering and pricing.

Peak demand an issue Lot of interest by

Parks team in WASP

Tauranga - Highlights

30 parks and playgrounds $6 million annual budget Metering & volumetric

charge being introduced Domestic demand

management programs Rainwater tank program

for new development Council has set a target of

25% reduction in peak water demand to 400 litres per person per day.

Kapiti Coast – Overview & Highlights

Wellington City, Hutt City, Upper Hutt City

100+ parks and playgrounds

40+ winter and summer sports fields.

$126 million annual operating budget for parks and open space

Councils owned water supply company (Capacity Ltd).

Wellington Region – Overview

Peak demand an issue

Water restrictions are on for managing outdoor demand

Unmetered water use Council parks

connected with automated irrigation scheduling system.

Wellington - Highlights

950 parks, river banks and garden areas covering 9000 hectares.

1.1 ha/1000 people of neighbour hood parks and 3.5 ha/1000 people of sports parks.

$27million annual operating budget of parks & open spaces.

Has Garden City image and seeks to protect and maintain it.

Council also has role of water supply

Christchurch - Overview

Metered water use. Fixed water charges Peak demand an

issue Water efficiency

program – Education program and Green Gardener program.

Councils from Canterbury region have similar issues.

Christchurch - Highlights

NZ local councils Have significant

urban irrigation demand.

Have an open space strategy that is well integrated with the regional strategy.

Tend to have water supply responsibilities

Seek to reduce peak demand which is largely due to urban irrigation.

Conclusions

WASP can be used at three different levels by most NZ local councils At council level – for

benchmarking irrigation of sports fields.

At water supply level – for mapping in-efficient landscapes and playing fields and developing targeted programs

At community level – for empowering the residents to make their own decision on achieving best practice.

Conclusions

Acknowledgement

CRC for Irrigation Futures

Thank You…….from Thermal Pool @ Rotorua

Kia ora!Thank You!

Conclusions

For enquiries on WASP – the urban irrigation benchmarking

toolbdevi@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au