Whitianga Marina, known as the “gateway to the Mercury Islands,” is an essential hub for tourism in New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula. The area, valued for its ecological diversity and natural beauty, includes Whitianga Harbour, a sensitive marine environment that supports various aquatic species. Protecting this habitat was paramount during the marina’s redevelopment, which added 31 new berths, a seawall, and a key access road.
Environmental Challenge:
The redevelopment needed an efficient stormwater treatment system that met Waikato Regional Council’s strict green infrastructure requirements while fitting within the marina’s limited space. Traditional stormwater systems were too large to accommodate the confined area between the access road and the seawall.
Solution:
Stormwater360 provided a tailored solution featuring Filterra® biofiltration—a green infrastructure technology that mimics natural soil and vegetation processes to filter pollutants effectively. Its compact size made it ideal for tight spaces, directing stormwater flows from both sides of the access road into the system while allowing overflow to a scruffy dome for additional filtering.
In other areas, Stormwater360 installed a reduced-depth, marine-grade StormFilter™—a system designed to capture fine sediments, metals, and hydrocarbons with cartridge filtration technology. Both systems provide high-quality stormwater treatment, safeguarding Whitianga Harbour’s waters from pollution.
Outcome:
The innovative use of Filterra® and StormFilter™ solutions offered Whitianga Marina a cost-effective, space-efficient way to meet environmental standards while preserving the health of the harbour.
