Work begins on Waitaki Street stormwater basin

The first work on a series of stormwater basins in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor (ŌARC) has begun, with construction of a nine-hectare flood management area under way beside Anzac Drive and Pages Road.

Christchurch City Council’s Head of Three Waters, Helen Beaumont, says the Waitaki Street stormwater and flood management basin will have a range of benefits for Christchurch.

“As well as addressing the regular flooding that occurs in that portion of the regeneration area, this basin will improve the quality of the water entering the Ōtākaro Avon River, and begin preparing Christchurch to address the future threats from sea-level rise,” Ms Beaumont says.

“This project will also increase the ecological values of the ŌARC and create valuable habitats for our coastal and wetland native flora and fauna.

“Our contractors are in the process of building stopbanks alongside the now-closed Waitaki St before they excavate and create stormwater catchment basins. They’ll then undertake landscaping, and create footpaths and walkways through the regenerated wetland area.”

Once completed, the basins will catch and treat all stormwater from a large area of Bexley before it’s discharged into the Ōtākaro Avon River.

The Waitaki Street project is expected to take three years to complete and, once finished, will treat up to 78 per cent of rain falling on the catchment.

This is the first of about 17 stormwater projects planned for the ŌARC over the next 30 years, as the Council brings into effect the Regeneration Plan for the area.

The Regeneration Plan sets out the vision and objectives to transform the ŌARC into an incredible asset for Christchurch and Canterbury over the next 30 to 50 years.

To stay up to date with developments in the ŌARC, visit ccc.govt.nz/regenerationareas and subscribe to our e-newsletter.