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Murphys Creek Option G: Stormwater Upgrades

If you live in Springlands, Blenheim, the chances are you live near a creek or stream.

Murphys Creek is an environmentally important, spring-fed waterway that flows through the residential area of Springlands into the Taylor River, and forms part of the urban stormwater management strategy in Blenheim.

Increased development to the northwest, and concerns over the impact this would have on the quality and capacity of Murphys Creek, led to an overall stormwater plan to alleviate these impacts.

As part of this process, and in consultation with key stakeholders, several concept design options were developed in 2016. The concept design known as Option G was agreed as the preferred option, and funding was set aside to complete this work in the Long-Term Plan.

This design will treat and divert stormwater flow from Murphys Creek to the nearby Taylor River in four phases:

Phase 1 Aston Street: Diverting and treating stormwater into an upgraded pipeline from Aston Street into Murphys Creek to improve the quality of water and efficiency of the existing stormwater system.

Phase 2 Main Pipeline: Construction of a new stormwater pipeline and installing treatment devices from Middle Renwick Road (State Highway 6) down Boyce Street to discharge to an existing pumping station at the High Street Bridge.

Phase 3 Boyce Street Outfall: Upgrading the existing detention area* and outfall - location where stormwater will discharge from the new main pipeline as a conduit into the Taylor River.

Phase 4 Connections to Existing Properties: Upgrading resident and business pipeline connections with features for treatment prior to discharge.

*Basin that temporarily holds back stormwater runoff and releases it at a controlled rate to mitigate the risk of flooding.

What’s happening?

Phase 1 Aston Street construction contract was awarded to Findlater Construction Ltd, which includes installation of a new treatment device and upsizing the stormwater pipe from Murphys Creek, through McKendry Park, Aston Street and across Murphys Road.

Works started in July and are anticipated to run for three months. During that time, there will be restricted vehicle access to Aston Street for residents and no access for non-residents and pedestrians.

Before Phase 2 Main Pipeline construction can begin in 2025, site investigations will be undertaken in early spring 2024 on SH6. These projects and subsequent phases will help deliver a range of benefits, including much-needed stormwater and water quality improvements.

Please check back to this page periodically as more information becomes available.

Below is an indicative timeline of the phases for this project, which are subject to change.

Why is Council undertaking this work?

Below is a visual timeline of the events that occurred to help inform the current Murphys Creek Option G solution. For more detailed information select the link below.

Go to the Collaborative Solutions to Urban Stormwater Management on the Water NZ website

The new consents required Council to implement the Springlands Stormwater Management Area Plan, which called for the establishment of the Springlands Stormwater Governance Group (SSGG) to oversee stormwater management. The group consists of tangata whenua, residents, business community, council staff and the wider community.

The main function of the group is to oversee implementation of the Springlands Stormwater Management Area Plan, as well as review annual reports on monitoring and make recommendations for improvements. They do not, however, direct, instruct or get involved in any operational stormwater management activities.

For more information on the background and planning into Murphys Creek Option G, select the below link.
Go to the Murphys Creek Background page

Water quality improvements in Springlands

As part of the current resource consent for discharging stormwater to Taylor River, water quality improvements will be implemented using proprietary stormwater treatment devices to remove sediment, oil, grease and debris from Murphys Creek that was captured in stormwater along SH6 and Boyce Street (Phase 2). The devices allow for easy inspection of debris and maintenance access and is a low energy option for capturing and storing pollutants of concern.

The concept design identified that water quality would be addressed through the installation of water treatment devices of varying purposes throughout the stormwater system. For Phase 1, a proprietary stormwater treatment device will be installed in the Aston Street area as part of the Murphys Road stormwater network upgrade. This will treat stormwater from that section of the catchment before it discharges to Murphys Creek.

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