Environmentally friendly options - planting

Planting gardens and trees can significantly reduce flooding and pollution of our beaches and streams as well as enhance the visual character of your property.

• Take care to find out where the drains are situated before starting work.
• If drains or manholes are accidentally damaged, please arrange for them to be fixed as soon as possible.
• Keep vegetation clear from manholes on your property. Tree roots can also play havoc with stormwater and wastewater drains. 

Open waterways

Water quality improves in situations where open stormwater drains are treated as natural waterways. Open waterways encourage fish and other aquatic life and improve water quality.

While concrete channels and pipes can efficiently remove stormwater they are not designed to improve stormwater quality. This means contaminated stormwater is channelled directly to the sea and if the channels are not large enough flooding may occur. Riparian planting and rain gardens may contribute to more effective stormwater management.

Planting along waterways

Riparian planting or planting along waterways is an important way of improving the quality of stormwater in North Shore City.

Riparian planting

• Helps stabilise stream banks effected by slumping and erosion 
• Provides shade and food to encourage aquatic life 
• Provides a barrier to catch pollutants that may enter streams 
• Provides organic matter for pollutants to bind with - allowing the contaminants to be assimilated and "taken out" of the stream 
• Reduces damage caused by flooding 
• Enhances the visual appeal of the property

Nature for Neighbourhoods

Does your property back on to a stream, creek or native bush? The Nature for Neighbourhoods project helps people living near streams and native bush improve their own backyards to collectively enhance and protect North Shore's environment.

For more information about planting natives on your property, protecting it from flood damage and preserving native bush, please visit:

Nature for Neighbourhoods

Swales and rain gardens

Swales and rain gardens can help reduce stormwater run-off.

Planted swales slow stormwater flows, capture some contaminants and allow for some reduction in the total volume of runoff by absorption and transpiration. They can sometimes take the place of conventional stormwater piped systems, and contribute to a more sustainable environment for the future.

Swales vary in size and scope. Simple grass verges can be defined as semi-swales, while 'true' swales have a dish shape. Native New Zealand plants such as carex grasses, flaxes, hebes and manuka are excellent plants for swales and contribute a uniquely New Zealand character.

Rain gardens are another natural way to manage stormwater runoff from carparks, driveways, industrial sites, residential areas and roads. Water collects in the raingarden, is stored, prevented from flowing downhill and is absorbed by the soil. Plants that enjoy high levels of ground moisture thrive in rain gardens.

Remember to maintain your rain garden.

What you can do

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