and frame all these in a way that enables their monitoring. It includes initial and ongoing research, and provides data to inform your program monitoring and evaluation.
To make the case for setting up Auckland’s erosion and sediment control program, Council staff had to carry out very robust initial research. They documented the local issue in terms of its existing and projected areal extent and environmental impacts. They then researched erosion and sediment control issues and management options in overseas jurisdictions. This information enabled them to build a case strong enough to justify setting up the program.
Ongoing research projects very specific to big construction sites that the Council has sponsored, funded or undertaken over the years include:
The Council also has an active scientific research program into (among other things) the effects of sediment runoff on freshwater and coastal ecosystems, sediment tracing and a host of other topics. These can be found by searching for ‘technical publications’ on the Council website33.
Thus, the efficiency of on-site control measures is continually assessed, while ongoing state of the environment monitoring aims to assess their overall effectiveness.
Step 3: Monitoring, evaluation and review
It is amazing – and disturbing – how many programs are set up in such a way that it’s not possible to evaluate them. I’ve scrutinized many a one, and it’s heartbreaking to tell people that the effectiveness of their program can’t be evaluated because of fundamental flaws in their plans and a lack of monitoring data.
By considering outcomes, objectives, monitoring, evaluation and program review UPFRONT in your program planning, you’re more likely to set up your program in the right way.
We did set objectives for our erosion and sediment control program and its training component – though with the benefit of 20:20:20 hindsight (20 points for each eye plus 20 years of experience!) I’d frame them differently now.
We have also conducted evaluations from time to time and I’ll talk about what we did and what we found in Chapter 6. In Chapter 6 I’ll also talk about how to set up your overall program and your training using a program logic approach that will ensure their outcomes and effectiveness can be evaluated.
Step 4: Policy, regulation and enforcement: a management framework
The Council’s erosion and sediment control program was set up within a legislative context that was changed within a very short time with the introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991. In one way, this was fortunate: a body of research had been built up and practical experience had been gained on the ground with regulation of the construction sector, and these informed the development of the new policy instruments provided by the new legislation.
The new act required each regional council to prepare two key policy instruments: a Regional Policy Statement and a Regional Coastal Plan. Regional Policy Statements do not contain enforceable rules: they overview the resource management issues of the region and set out policies and methods to achieve integrated management of the natural and physical resources of the whole region out to the 12-mile coastal limit. Other plans then give effect to these with rules and other methods. Regional Coastal Plans provide a framework to promote the integrated and sustainable management of the coastal environment, which can stretch from the mountain-top out to the 12-mile limit, depending on the issue in question. They can make enforceable rules, but only for areas below mean high water springs.
The research already done to make the policy case for better erosion and sediment control meant that, in Auckland, both these instruments contained strong statements about the effects of accelerated erosion on fresh and coastal waters, noting that many of the adverse effects of land use are expressed in the ultimate marine receiving environments. The same is true of the major lakes and aquifers found in other parts of the world.
The new policy framework enabled the Council to set up robust regulation of erosion and sediment runoff. There are of course many other national, regional, local, Maori and community laws, policies and strategies that also need to be considered.
Ongoing erosion and sediment control-related policy work the Council has carried out over the years includes:
