Project Twin Streams is an urban sustainability project which aims to restore 56kms of Waitakere stream banks through an integrated community development approach. By engaging local communities and residents, via community organisations, the streambanks are weeded, replanted with natives and maintained.

The project is about many things: community engagement, stream health, natural environment and the health and recreation of people and their community.

The project also fits in with other stormwater initiatives in Waitakere. It is designed to work with nature rather than against it.

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PTS Song Quest 09

Click to enlarge poster

Are you an aspiring musician who is passionate about the Environment? Are you under 18 years old and want to win some amazing prizes?

If so, why not enter the PTS Song Quest 09 - write and perform a song conveying the message and ideals of Project Twin Streams.

For more information on PTS Song Quest 09 or join us on facebook.

What is Project Twin Streams?

Oratia Stream Planting 2007

The project looks at the land within the catchment, at how households can become more sustainable, and how cycle and walkways along streams can reconnect communities while providing opportunities for fun and fitness.

The vision for Project Twin Streams is "Working together for healthy streams and strong communities: creating a sustainable future.

Catchment Map Click to Enlarge

The Project Twin Streams catchment area takes in the Oratia, Waikumete, Opanuku, Pixie and Swanson streams in Waitakere.

It covers an area of 10,000 hectares and has a population of 100,000 people.

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Project Twin Streams - Key Facts and Figures (Size 107K)

Who is involved?

Young Planter Opanuku 2008

The project is a mainly funded by regional government - Auckland Regional Holdings (a division of ARC and formerly Infrastructure Auckland) with additional resourcing from Waitakere City Council.

Waitakere City Council manage the project and contract a wide range of community organisations to delivery the project.These include:

Te Ukaipo Mercy Initiatives for Rangatahi and Ranui Action Project manage the contract for Ranui-Massey.
Community Waitakere manages the contract for the Henderson Creek area.
Corban Estate Arts Centre (CEAC) manages the contract for the Opanuku stream area.
EcoMatters Environment Trust and Glen Eden Primary School jointly manage the contract for the Glen Eden area.
McLaren Park & Henderson South Community Initiative (MPHS) manages the contract for the Oratia stream area.
Local iwi Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngati Whatua are also involved with the project.
ARC, Landcare Research and Wai-Care all provide ongoing support and input.

What is Project Twin Streams trying to achieve?

Flax showing leaves of achievement Environmental, Economic, Spiritual, Social and Cultural

Project Twin Stream has multi-strand objectives but its main objective is to improve the streams and waterways within its area. The project is doing this in a number of ways: such as replanting 56 kilometres of stream banks and purchasing some properties which are situated within the stream's natural route.

The stream bank plantings will improve stormwater (the rainwater that runs off land into our drain system firstly and then into our rivers and streams) by creating buffer zones along the stream banks. These plantings will also help create the environment and habitat which encourages an increase in the number of native fish, birds, bats, lizards, geckos and insects in and around the streams.

Where are we on that journey?

Timeline

Project Twin Streams story

In 2007 the Project Twin Streams Story was written to capture the history of the project, from initial idea to the successful community stormwater project it is today.

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Project Twin Streams Story (Size 2860K)

Community organisations

One of the key objectives of Project Twin Streams is to build strong relationships with and within the communities through which the streams run.

Local community organisations are contracted by Council to work with residents and groups in their area - they organise community plantings events and work with groups, businesses and schools who adopt specific areas. This means that local organisations with local knowledge are the driving force of the project.

At the moment there are six contract areas, five of which employ a community coordinator.

Henderson Creek	Ranui-Massey
Opanuku Stream	Swanson (bridge to bridge)
Oratia Stream	Glen Eden

Getting involved

Are you serious about helping clean up Waitakere's streams and waterways ?

There are lots of different things you can do to improve the health of your local stream:

• Attend a community planting event and get planting - Project Twin Streams holds over 15 community planting events between May and September. These events are a great way to get involved in restoring your local streams - there is always live music, entertainment, planting, art activities and a barbecue to finish. To find out when a planting event is being held near you check out the Events Calendar Search page, our newsletter Streamtalk or look out for the signs and billboards closer to the time.
• Use your car less. Pollution from cars in very damaging to streams - it can kill native fish and pollute the food chain.
• Wash your car on the grass - water that runs off the road and driveways often contains chemicals and pollutants. This water flows directly into our local. By washing your car on the grass, the lawn absorbs all the nasty chemicals preventing them from going into the stream and causing more harm.
• Adopt a section of streambank - get a group together to adopt a section of your local stream. Working with a local community coordinator you can learn how to clear, plant and care for your own section of stream bank.
• If you are aged between 5 and 10 years old you can become a member of Waitakere Water Ambassadors Kid club - start caring for our local waterways at home by becoming a Water Ambassador and learn how to protect our water supply.

Property purchases

Why Project Twin Streams needs to purchase some properties

River water flooding on property

Rivers flood as a matter of course and over time they build up a flood plain - this is an area beside the normal banks, into which the river spreads when in flood.

The flood plain absorbs a great deal of the extra water in flood conditions and helps to slow its speed - thus reducing the damaging impacts that could otherwise occur.

In most communities, housing does develop in the flood plain and in some places artificial stop-banks or other measures are created to hold back floodwater. This artificial narrowing of the flood plain opposes nature: it forces the water to become deeper and run faster - and this can have serious consequences to the natural and built environments further downstream.

Over recent years Waitakere City Council has decided to purchase and remove some houses in the flood plains of certain streams. In part this obtains land for restoring the riparian margin and the building of walk and cycle ways and other recreational features. It also will enable nature to work the way it wants to in flood events, and thus assist in reducing the impacts along the length of the stream. The houses will be relocated.

Project Outcomes

Stoney Creek Opanuku Catchment

As well as environmental improvements, Project Twin Streams also aims to bring economic, social and cultural benefits to the communities within its catchment. This is known as the Quadruple Bottom Line (QBL).

Environmental objectives

From an environmental perspective Project Twin Streams aims to:

1. Integrate land use planning & management of the three waters to minimise flooding, reduce pollution & siltation in streams & the harbour.
2. Integrate catchment management planning & application of the treatment-train approach.
3. Recreate & restore ecological corridors, extending the Green Network
4. Create lower impact footprints in the future through a low impact urban design and form.
5. Encourage use of sustainable technologies.
6. Contribute towards the mitigation of climate change & upholding the Kyoto protocol.
7. Monitor & evaluate the effectiveness of PTS in improving the environmental & ecological health of the catchment.

Economic objectives

From an economic perspective Project Twin Streams aims to:

1. Create opportunities for collaborative ventures with government, business, iwi, urban Maori & academic institutions
2. Be a catalyst for iwi, Maori & community-based economic & enterprise development
3. Develop opportunities for research and new water, waste & energy efficient technologies
4. Monitor & evaluate the effectiveness of PTS in increasing job opportunities & economic development opportunities.

Economic development is central to Project Twin Streams and there is a number of collaborative initiatives in development.

Social objectives

From a social perspective Project Twin Streams aims to:

1. Encourage communities to understand & take responsibility and ownership for the social, environmental, cultural & economic development of their localities
2. Facilitate the development of locality and community governance structures for PTS
3. Foster sustainable community leadership
4. Work in ways that develop & promote an integrated holistic approach & connect with people's minds, bodies & spirits
5. Create life long learning opportunities about how to live, work & play sustainably
6. Provide pedestrian & cycle linkages that promote healthy lifestyles
7. Promote opportunities that advance affordable & sustainable housing
8. Evaluate & monitor the effectiveness of the community development approach & in achieving the integration of the Quadruple Bottom Line (QBL) approach

Cultural objectives

From a cultural perspective Project Twin Streams aims to:

1. Foster sharing of diverse cultures through creative methods such as storytelling, art, music, literature & drama
2. Ensure inclusiveness of & learning from different cultural views
3. Recognise, record, respect, promote & profile the heritage of local areas
4. Promote creative ways for learning
5. Monitor & evaluate the effectiveness of using arts & culture to increase the understanding and uptake of local community & iwi

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View the Strategic Plan (Size 84KB)

Environmental Monitoring

At the heart of Project Twin Streams is a desire to improve the quality of our streams. To ensure we are making progress, Project Twin Streams carries out two strands of environmental monitoring - Pressure-State-Response (PSR) monitoring and ecological surveys.

Mud crab	Native inanga in stream		Weta on stream bank	Shortfin eel in stream

PSR Monitoring

The Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model recognises that human activities such as residential growth put pressure on the environment, affecting the quality and quantity of natural resources. PSR monitoring provides a framework to gauge the cause and effects of environmental problems so that remedial steps can be taken.

PSR Reports

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Ecology Monitoring Report 06 v2 (Size 1.2M)
Sediment Quality Monitoring Report 05-6 (Size 6M)
Sythesis Report v10 (Size 5.6M)
Water Quality Monitoring Report 05-6 (Size 1.6M)

The PSR framework for Project Twin Streams uses a variety of indicators that measure performance and indicate how well the objectives of the project are being met. Indicators used include:

• Impervious Area: The proportion of the catchment covered by roads, roofs, driveways and other non-natural, impervious surfaces.
• Wastewater Overflows: The number of sewer blockages resulting in wastewater overflows into streams for the period of December 2003 to April 2004.
• Stormwater Outlets: The number of stormwater outlets greater than 375mm diameter.
• Traffic Activity: Calculated by multiplying the road length (km) by the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts, to give Vehicle Kilometres of Travel (VTM) for roads.
• Riparian (stream bank) Width: The percentage of the catchment stream length with riparian zones less than 10m wide (from District Plan maps).

Ecological Surveys

Ecological surveys use biological indictors such as the presence of birds, bats, lizards, geckos and insects together with fruiting and flowering phenology, vegetation structure and composition and animal pests to measure environmental conditions.

In addition, a number of community groups carry out Wai Care monitoring which means that they monitor and report stream water quality on a regular basis. Each of the community contract organisations are also WAICARE groups

The environmental monitoring campaign, which began in 2003, is still in its early stages, which means that it is too soon for clear trends to be identified. However there have been some noted improvements in certain locations.

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View a snapshot of environmental monitoring - 2006/07 Environmental Report Card (Size 2.9MB)

Evaluation Framework

A formative evaluation framework for Project Twin Streams has been developed. This framework sets how the first phase of the project, from 2003 to 2007, will be assessed. It captures progress in this phase and provides a clear platform from which to assess and plan the journey of Project Twin Streams as it evolves.

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Evaluation Framework (Size 3.66M)

Research Papers

Project Twin Streams has been the focus of a number of university papers and research reports.

The Waitakere Guidelines for Riparian Restoration: Lessons from Project Twin Streams was presented by Kristy Hall, Ecologist, and Colleen Helsel, Riparian coordinator - Swanson Stream at the New Zealand Water and Wastes Associations South Pacific Stormwater conference on the 30 April 2009.

The paper looked at the objectives and visions of the riparian restoration method, the theory behind weed control and the community engagement aspect of Project Twin Streams. The full paper is available for download below.

For more information about Project Twin Streams research projects contact twinstream@waitakere.govt.nz.

Sustainable Communities

Sustainable Communities was a three year project - part of Sustainable Cities - which ran from 2004 to June 2007. Project Twin Streams was selected as one of two demonstration projects. It provided additional resources which allowed Project Twin Streams to progress the social, economic and cultural outcomes of the project.

The Sustainable Communities vision is: To achieve strong, liveable and prosperous communities in Auckland through a sustainable development approach.

Download the Evaluation Report

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View the Sustainable Communities Evaluation (Size 405K) or visit  Auckland Sustainable Cities Programme.

Other resources

Streamtalk Newsletters

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• Streamtalk Newsletter - April 2009 (Size 1199K)
• Streamtalk Newsletter - December 2008 (Size 1106K)
• Streamtalk Newsletter - August 2008 (Size 1070K)
• Streamtalk Newsletter - May 2008 (Size 1104K)
• Streamtalk Newsletter - December 2007 (Size 972K)
• Streamtalk Newsletter - August 2007 (Size 1229K)
• Streamtalk Newsletter - April 2007 (Size 1M)
• Streamtalk Newsletter - December 2006 (Size 2.2M)

Related links:

www.sustainability.govt.nz
www.sustainableliving.org.nz
www.ecomatters.org.nz

Further information on stormwater and stream pollution.

Related projects

The Green Network

Waitakere has adopted a Green Network programme which aims to stop the degradation of our natural heritage. It encourages action to look after the city's valuable natural assets and allow streams, parks, patches of bush and forest to weave throughout the ranges, rural, urban and coastal areas.

Clean Stream Waitakere

The Clean Stream Waitakere project is part of Keep Waitakere Beautiful and the Waitakere City Council's Green Network strategy linking the Waitakere Ranges to the sea.