1. Urban Irrigation Policies & Practices in New Zealand A report on tour of New Zealand local councils Dr Bhakti Devi City of Sydney

2. Acknowledgement CRC for Irrigation Futures

3.  NZ tour objectives  NZ tour outputs & outcomes  NZ tour stops– overview & highlights  Conclusions Overview

4.  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

5.  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

6.  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

7.  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

8. 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).

9.  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

10.  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

11.  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

12.  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

13.  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

14.  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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Acknowledgement CRC for Irrigation Futures

18. Thank You…….from Thermal Pool @ Rotorua Kia ora! Thank You! Conclusions For enquiries on WASP – the urban irrigation benchmarking tool bdevi@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au