This is clearly an important indicator. Stormwater infrastructure cannot be economically installed to cope with the more uncommon, intense storm events. It is therefore important that when the Council receives a request for assistance that a timely response is provided. There can be difficulties in measuring the indictor. The interpretation of ‘threat to a dwelling’ can be subjective. Customers have a range of expectations and tolerances. Ensuring the property in question is within the boundary of the urban stormwater system and that the problem is not due to some configuration of private pipework also needs to be determined. Receiving good, clear feedback from the field during an emergency event can be difficult as resources are inevitably stretched and working in difficult circumstances. During many storm events the council receives many calls regarding customers’ problems with the sewerage system. Toilets and domestic plumbing are slow to drain and can back-up, sometimes alarmingly. This is due to stormwater ingress into the sewer pipes causing them to surcharge and preventing them from taking any further foul drainage. This is a problem with the sewer reticulation and must be distinguished from the performance of the stormwater system. Level of Service - Provide a stormwater service that is sustainable. Performance Indicator - Percentage of annual renewal works completed. Performance Indicator - Percentage of capital improvement works completed. These performance indicators are based on the percentage of the annual renewal and capital works budget spent each year. The expenditure programme is carefully planned and based on three main elements – projected growth in demand; renewal to ensure assets are replaced as they reach the end of their useful lives and service improvement to meet the aspirations and expectations of the community. Maintaining the infrastructure on this basis ensures the service is sustained into the future. The budget is for infrastructure capital expenditure projects are prepared and agreed based on a forecast of the planning process. The process involves community consultation, assessment of the feasibility of the design options, seeking Resource Consent approval, land acquisition, contract preparation and tendering. From a budgetary point of view it is sensible to be optimistic towards the planning process as it would be inefficient to be delayed by lack of budgeted funds. In practice the planning process is rarely smooth. It is common therefore to under-spend on projected budgets as delays in the process slow the spending profile. 2.7 What Our Customers Would Like – Future Challenges The levels of service in the future are likely to remain relatively unchanged. 2.7.1 Levels of Service – Water Quality The control of stormwater discharges is currently difficult to measure against a recognised standard as there is a legacy of many different historical resource consents. The Blenheim Stormwater Strategy proposes a comprehensive review and renewal of the urban stormwater resource consents. The conditions imposed by future consents cannot readily be anticipated. It is possible that limitations will be specified on the physical, chemical and biological quality of stormwater discharges to the receiving water. Alternatively target values may be set for the water quality of receiving streams as they pass through the urban environment. The consequences for the council infrastructure and management is yet to be determined There may be additional apparatus to be installed, regular monitoring and source management required to protect the environment and ensure compliance. These will only become apparent when the consents have been finalised and monitored. Page 23