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Stormwater

Stormwater catchment management plans

What is a stormwater catchment management plan (CMP)?

A stormwater catchment is an area of land where rain flows into a common river, lake, or other body of water.

New Plymouth District has 13 urban stormwater catchments, and developing a management plan for each of them is the first and most urgent task defined in the Stormwater Roadmap. There are previous catchment plans, created in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, but they are outdated.

The scope of our CMPs is restricted to the urban portions of the catchments (these are the areas managed by NPDC) and to the issues caused by the runoff from local rainfall.

The new CMPs will capture the current state of the urban stormwater network for each catchment and where the challenges are, and identify the opportunities to address these challenges. They are primarily focused on stormwater and its effects on flood risk, people and the environment, but also integrate other aspects when appropriate, like where there is significant inflow to and overflow from the wastewater network.

In some catchments like Waiwhakaiho and Waitara, the control of flooding risk caused by the rivers is managed by Taranaki Regional Council.

Stormwater issues involve more than the existing piped network. Understanding the causes of flooding requires understanding the natural water flows across a landscape, the role of manga (streams and creeks) and awa (rivers), and the role of the built environment. Māori have a valuable role in this understanding through matauranga (knowledge) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship), as do local residents, and businesses who have experienced stormwater issues.

The proposals in the CMPs to address stormwater issues try to incorporate a holistic approach, based on the comprehensive understanding that the CMPs provide. They may range from upgrades to the piped network, to restoration of streams and wetlands, or managing land development to prevent specific issues in a given area.

When will the CMPs be available?

We are starting in Waitara due to its significant and ongoing issues with stormwater and flooding. Expected publishing dates for the CMPs are:

 

Visit CMPs

Waitara CMP

Waitara CMP FAQs About flooding

Page last updated: 03:41pm Tue 15 April 2025

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