Part 1: Otago Regional Council Natural Hazards Teams – Roxburgh Debris Flows

A localised thunderstorm on 26 November 2017 produced severe flooding and sediment movement, also known as debris flows, in the hills behind Roxburgh. This resulted in significant sediment deposition across State Highway 8 and within Roxburgh township, with the road closing in four places, and remaining impassable for several days. In light of such events, the ORC team will present an overview of the natural hazards in the Roxburgh area, with a particular focus on the debris flow hazard. In addition, the presentation will outline the project’s next steps, with the opportunity for people to ask questions.

Part 2: Otago Emergency Management – Roxburgh Community Response Group

The focus of this section of the meeting was preparedness and whether the community could function for seven, eight, or more days while waiting for critical infrastructure to be repaired, Central Otago Emergency Management Advisor Derek Shaw said.

“If we can’t stay in our homes, where do we go? What support can we expect from local or central government or are we on our own? If we’re cut off from the rest of the district, how would we cope?

“These are the questions we have to ask ourselves, especially with recent examples such as the 2023 Auckland floods and the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on the North Island’s East Coast. Many of these questions can be answered at the public meeting, where interest in establishing a Roxburgh Civil Defence Community Response Group will also be gauged.”