Climate Change and Infrastructure Design Case study: Wairau Catchment, North Shore City
August 2004
This case study investigates the impacts of both climate change and different modelling approaches (design storm model vs time series/dynamic model) on stormwater infrastructure design within the Wairau Valley stormwater catchment in North Shore City. Four different climate data sets were produced - 'present', representing the present climate, and 'Future 1', 'Future 2', and 'Future 3', representing three different possible future climate change scenarios. In all, 8 different possibilities are examined: 'Present/Design Storm', 'Present/Dynamic', 'Future 1/'Design Storm', 'Future 1/Dynamic', 'Future 2/'Design Storm', 'Future 2/Dynamic', 'Future 3/'Design Storm', 'Future 3/Dynamic'.
Although the case study may provide a blueprint to help other councils identify, scope and respond to climate change effects during their own stormwater upgrades, it is not intended to provide any standard solutions. Each region, district and community will have its own climate-related vulnerabilities and priorities relating to rainfall and stormwater infrastructure.
This case study was prepared by Helen Shaw, Senior Water Resources Engineer, URS Ltd.
Availability:
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- Printed copies of this manual are not available.
