Technical reports 2009

TR2009/101 - A Genuine Progress Indicator for the Auckland Region: Valuation Methodology
(920.2 KB PDF)

Like GDP or Gross Domestic Product, the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) is a measure of economic progress. The difference is that GPI also takes into account social and environmental costs as well as the benefits of growth. The Auckland regional GPI takes into account eighteen components, ranging from unemployment, crime, overwork, loss of soils, to loss of air quality. Every component represents either an addition to, or subtraction from, the total personal consumption expenditure figures for each year. This report explains the methodology behind the first ever Auckland regional GPI in some detail.

TR2009/102 - River water quality annual report 2007
(764.7 KB PDF)

This report provides a summary of the water quality data collected from the ARC’s monitoring network of 27 rivers. The data is presented graphically, in tabular form and, for the first time, was used to produce a water quality index for each site. The index allowed sites to be ranked and a water quality class to be assigned to each site. In 2007, the Cascades Stream in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park had the best water quality and the Otaki Creek, a tributary of the Tamaki River, had the poorest water quality. The report also detailed programme changes that were made during 2007.

Neale, M.W. 2009. State of the Environment Monitoring: River Water Quality Annual Report 2007. Auckland Regional Council Technical Report 2009/102.

TR 2009/107 - Auckland waste stocktake and strategic assessment 2009
(1.6 MB PDF)

The report collates regional waste data and information from many sources including territorial authorities, landfill operators, transfer stations, recyclers, large waste generating businesses and the ARC. The data has been evaluated to gain an understanding of regional waste flows including which parts of the waste stream are recycled and recovered, the opportunities that exist to increase reuse, recycling and recovery, mechanisms to enable those opportunities to be realised (including the contestable Waste Levy Fund) and significant barriers to future waste minimisation in the region.

TR2009/108 Review of toxins in the sea slug and coincidence of dog deaths along Auckland beaches
(5.6 MB PDF)

Through July and August 2009, there were a number of unexplained dog deaths and reported mortality of penguins, dolphins and pilchards within, and around the Waitemata Harbour and parts of the broader Hauraki Gulf. This report describes the results of a multi-agency investigation and response to these incidents, including the identification of the bio-toxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) in sea slugs.

Hauraki Gulf Marine Toxin Response - FAQs
(96.8 KB PDF)

This is a selection of frequently asked questions about the investigation and technical report.

What you need to know about sea slugs
(42.7 KB PDF)

Find the answers to some common questions and where to go for more information about sea slugs on Auckland beaches.

TR2009/109 - Central Waitemata Harbour contaminant study - rainfall analysis
(1.0 MB PDF)

This report belongs to the Central Waitemata Harbour Contaminant Study series. It describes the choice and derivation of the long-term rainfall record for the study. The main aim was to model contaminant (zinc, copper) and sediment accumulation within the CWH for the purposes of, amongst other things, identifying significant contaminant sources, and testing efficacy of stormwater treatment and contaminant source control.

TR 2009/110 Southeastern Manukau Harbour / Pahurehure Inlet Contaminant Study: Rainfall Analysis
(1.1 MB PDF)

This report is part of the Southeastern Manukau Harbour Contaminant Study series. It describes the choice and derivation of the long-term rainfall record for the study. The aim of the study was to model contaminant (zinc, copper) and sediment accumulation in the Southeastern Manukau Harbour to identify significant contaminant sources and the testing efficacy of stormwater treatment and contaminant source control.

TR2009/111 - The impacts of stormwater in Auckland's aquatic receiving environment - a review of information 2005-2008
(2.1 MB PDF)

This report provides a summary of literature and investigations that were completed during the period 2005 to 2008. The report focuses on investigations that target the assessments of Auckland’s aquatic receiving environments.

TR2009/113 - Auckland Regional Council tsunami inundation study
(5.7 MB PDF)

This report outlines the potential inundation threat in the Auckland region from a distant source tsunami event. A possible tsunami produced by a MW 9.5 earthquake centred off the coast of Chile was the scenario chosen to perform inundation modelling, which is undertaken for current and future higher sea levels.

TR2009/114 - Organic Contaminants in Sentinel Shellfish 2006
(817.4 KB PDF)

Data from ARC’s monitoring of sentinel shellfish in the Manukau and Waitemata harbours is presented for 2006. Samples were analysed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

TR2009/115 - Organic Contaminants in Sentinel Shellfish 2008
(944.9 KB PDF)

Data from ARC’s monitoring of sentinel shellfish in the Manukau and Waitemata harbours is presented for 2008. Samples were analysed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

TR2009/116 - Short-term behavioural responses of selected benthic invertebrates inhabiting muddy habitats to burial by terrestrial clay
(140.1 KB PDF)

This report evaluates short term behavioral responses of marine macrofauna, living in muddy sediments, to the deposition of a slurry of terrigenous clay. In general, levels of stress and mortality of the macrofauna increased with time, probably due to reduced access to food and oxygen at the surface of the clay and the changing chemical composition of the original sediment. Larger, more-mobile animals were less affected than small and slow moving ones.

TR2009/117 - Effects of suspended sediment concentrations on suspension and deposit feeding marine microfauna
(331.6 KB PDF)

This report is a continuation of research by the Auckland Regional Council and NIWA on the effects of increased sediment loading in estuaries and concentrates on the effects of increased suspended sediment concentrations. Results of the experiments undertaken emphasise the negative effects that suspended sediment concentrations may have on common marine macrofaunal species within the Auckland Region.

Richardson Road study: Measurement and sampling of runoff and catchpit solids
(3.9 MB PDF)

This report describes the methods and results of a study to measure the quantity and quality of road runoff and catchpit solids at Richardson Rd in Auckland city. The primary aim of the study was to collect data which will allow the loads of solids, copper, lead, zinc and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) entering roadside catchpits to be estimated.

TR2009/120 - Mahurangi Harbour ecological monitoring programme - report on data collected from July 1994 to Jan 2009
(873.6 KB PDF)

Ecological results from the last fifteen years of monitoring the Mahurangi Harbour are presented and discussed in this report.

TR2009/121 - Manukau Harbour ecological monitoring programme - report on data collected up until Feb 2009
(719.7 KB PDF)

This report presents the results of ecological monitoring of the Manukau Harbour from 1987 to 2009.

TR2009/122 - Quantification of catchpit sediments and contaminants – literature review
(1.3 MB PDF)

This report is a literature review that compiles information about sediment characteristics and contaminants that are collected in catchpits. The literature was sourced both locally and internationally.

TR2009/123 - Quantification of catchpit sediments and contaminants – data collection
(1.9 MB PDF)

This is a data collection report that compiles information about sediment characteristics and contaminants that are collected in catchpits. Samples of solids were collected from 30 roadside catchpits in Auckland.

TR2009/125 - Sediment monitoring plan for the Auckland Region
(697.2 KB PDF)

Fine sediment discharge from streams to coastal waters is a significant environmental issue for the Auckland region. Managing this to ensure sustainable development requires a robust monitoring plan to improve understanding of the sediment sources, quantify the amount of sediment coming off the land at the catchment and regional scale, and assess the effectiveness of erosion mitigation policies. This report develops a draft design for such a stream sediment monitoring programme.