The ORC’s Environmental Data Portal is experiencing high traffic volumes affecting its effectiveness at present. The site is being worked on at present and people are asked to be patient. Please be considerate in using this tool, some people require access to the EDP for important decision-making today.
Environmental Data PortalThe ORC’s Environmental Data Portal is experiencing high traffic volumes affecting its effectiveness at present. The site is being worked on at present and people are asked to be patient. Please be considerate in using this tool, some people require access to the EDP for important decision-making today.
The Head of Lake Whakatipu natural hazards adaptation programme provides a framework that will help us manage the risks associated with natural hazards at the Head of Lake Whakatipu, including Glenorchy and Kinloch. The aim of the programme is to make the area more resilient.
We started the programme because this area faces a changing landscape, a complex mix of natural hazards and future uncertainties.
The setting at the Head of the Lake means we need to take a comprehensive approach to managing the hazards, one that takes a long-term view, encompasses all types of natural hazards, and works with the community to develop resilience. Reactive or very localised responses are likely to have only shorter-term benefits, so the most effective way to deal with this type of complex setting is to take a long-term adaptation view and working with the community to develop resilience.
The ORC is taking the same approach in other areas facing complex challenges with natural hazards – such as South Dunedin, the Taieri Plains and the Clutha Delta.
This work programme is considering all types of natural hazards and their possible impacts – this includes hazards associated with floodplains and alluvial fans, such as flooding and erosion, along with seismic and geological hazards.
We expect that some hazards will change over time, and they may become more likely or have greater impacts due to changes in the landscape or climate. You can find out more about factors that are expected to increase the future flooding hazards for the Dart and Rees floodplains on our investigations, reports and presentations page.
The project to develop the strategy is being led by the ORC, in partnership with Queenstown Lakes District Council, Aukaha and Te Ao Marama, working together with the local community.
The ORC team are:
Several consultants are providing specialist input and advice for the project:
This programme uses an approach called Dynamic Adaptive Pathways Planning (also referred to as DAPP, or “Adaptation Pathways”).
This approach was developed by the Ministry for the Environment as a blueprint for community-led decision-making in areas affected by natural events and climate change.
This programme is following the Dynamic Adaptive Pathways Planning (also referred to as DAPP, or ‘Adaptation Pathways’). This the approach we are using to develop a longer-term natural hazards adaptation strategy for the area at the head of Lake Wakatipu.
This ‘Adaptation Pathways’ approach has been developed by the Ministry for the Environment as a blueprint for community-led decision making in areas affected by natural events and climate change.
MfE Coastal hazards and climate change: Guidance for local government
This is a hazard management approach developed specifically to help plan and adapt for situations where the future is uncertain – it allows for flexible and adaptive decision-making, and for planning even when there may be uncertainty about the timing or impacts of future changes.
It’s an approach that helps develop long-term responses to natural hazards affected by environmental changes – such as flooding or coastal hazards affected by climate changes. Other types or natural hazard, such as geological or seismic events like landsliding or liquefaction will also be considered within this approach as part of the wider multi-hazard context.
This adaptation approach is often shown as a 10-step decision cycle (as below), and can be simplified as the sequence of five steps shown in the figure below that.
10-step decision cycle, Coastal Hazards and Climate Change (MfE).
Simplified five step sequence
The programme work to date has been focused on developing the understanding of the natural hazards and natural processes in the head of Lake Wakatipu area.
These studies include:
These hazards studies provide a much more detailed understanding of the natural hazards in this area, and will help to inform a community discussion on hazards response. Throughout this period, we have also been in touch with the community.
Keeping the community updated.
Natural hazards reports, findings and community presentations
2022 flood hazard findings and liquefaction hazard assessments
There will be additional natural hazards studies required for this work programme, such as a study to carry out revised assessments of the Buckler Burn flooding hazard, which is currently being scoped.
Any new findings will be shared when available.
The specific mix of natural hazards and physical processes in the head of Lake Wakatipu is unique to this area, but many other locations in Otago are exposed to the potential impacts of other combinations of natural hazards events.
ORC works to understand these hazards through hazards investigations, and has a responsibility to manage hazard impacts through development of adaptation or hazard management work programmes.
This type of natural hazards adaptation and hazard management programme is a usual part of the ORC natural hazards work activities. ORC has previously completed, or has programmes underway or planned, to develop natural hazards management strategies for many locations within Otago, including;
Map of the Otago region showing the locations where ORC has developed natural hazards management strategies, or where these are in progress or planned.