Development increases non-permeable areas in the catchment, which increases the amount of stormwater runoff and contaminants generated from a number of sources such as roading.
Increased runoff requires larger stormwater pipes and channels to be safely conveyed to the receiving environment. Thus, development places greater demand by requiring existing stormwater infrastructure to be upgraded or extended.
Under the provision of the Resource Management Act 1991 councils may adopt a policy in respect of financial contributions for developers to fully fund for impacts of their developments on infrastructure.
Council's Manukau Operative District Plan contains an objective that the costs of providing or upgrading stormwater infrastructure should be contributed by the developers who undertake land modification, development and subdivision. The 
type of financial contribution (PDF 40kb) depends on the project.
Stormwater financial contributions ensure that funds for the required stormwater upgrading works are available to service the ultimate development in the catchment.
Due to the disparate nature of development, council facilitates implementation of development by:
- Coordinating the financial contribution process
- Setting up financial contribution funds scheme
- Collecting the funds from individual developments, and
- Enabling construction of required works when sufficient funds are available.
Methodology
The method used by council in setting up a stormwater financial contribution scheme involves a desk top study of the following:
- Identifying stormwater catchment boundaries
- Identifying development potential in the catchment (developable lots)
- Identifying the required upgrading works and cost, and
- Dividing the cost among the contributing lots to determine a financial contribution rate per additional lot or area.
Manukau City Council has 187 financial contribution catchments including sub-catchments within the large catchments.
When a developer comes in for resource consents, the council applies the relevant stormwater financial contribution rate to determine how much the development should contribute to the upgrading works. The amount of financial contribution is put in as a condition of resource consent to be paid prior to the release of the C224 certificate.
When council has collected sufficient funds from a number of developments, council then finances the construction of the works on behalf of developments through cost share arrangements with some of the applicants. The cost share arrangement is such that:
- The applicant pays the applicable financial contribution
- The applicant undertakes the works agreed with council (preliminary studies, design, engineering consenting, construction and supervision)
- Council pays for the work undertaken.
Where a financial contribution is less than the value of the works, council may offset the contribution applicable against the works undertaken by paying the balance to the applicant. This 
flow chart (JPEG 255kb) sets out the process for cost share arrangements.
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