COP Brief development

Physical constraints included the generally low elevations of the hut and campsites, the proximity to coastal waters, estuaries or rivers, the bush-covered countryside, the sandy soils and estuarine sediments in coastal areas, the hilly topography, the limited areas of flat land, and in some places shallow rock. Site investigations characterised the physical constraints and on-site concepts were developed that were appropriate. Important aspects of the solutions were:

• containing waste where there were unstable environments (e.g., toilets on sand dunes or very steep topography);
• creating a considerable separation distance between effluent disposal areas and surface waters;
• using solar power with back up generators to allow pumping;
• disposing of effluent below ground.

Access issues

Within the Park there are no infrastructural services such as roads, power supplies, telephones, water supplies and sewerage. Development in the Park needs to provide for such services during construction and in operation. Solutions adopted needed to have low water requirements, as natural supplies can be short-lived or run low during the summer. The provision of power reflected the needs of users at the site.

Aesthetic requirements

People go to National Parks to enjoy the natural environment. Developments, especially those for sewage management, need to minimise, as far as practicable, adverse aesthetic effects such as adverse visual effects, problem odours and noise. Solutions were designed to avoid or minimise visual effects, malodours and noise.

Ecological values

The Park contains native vegetation which must be protected. The introduction of weeds and the contamination of water during construction were unacceptable threats which were addressed through appropriate design and contractual requirements.

Economic constraints

The Park is isolated from conventional infrastructural services, so any development has the additional expense of transport and providing for other such services, during construction and operation. It was important for DOC that economically feasible ways were identified for providing for service and maintenance requirements. In addition, the operation of Park services could not be interrupted.

Innovative solutions adopted to minimise development and running costs included the use of duty and standby septic tanks, enabling considerable flexibility for pump-out events and providing overall financial benefits. The approach also reduces the risk of septic tank overflow, provides greater storage capacity in the event of pump malfunction and generally enhances the robustness of an onsite solution for a backcountry environment with high usage.