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HEAD OF LAKE WHAKATIPU

COMMUNITY UPDATE 28 | AUGUST 2023

Kia ora koutou,

Here is our programme update for August, which includes details about our next community workshop happening at the end of this month.

The aim of this workshop is to start creating a Natural Hazards Adaptation Strategy based on guiding principles that reflect community and mana whenua values and objectives. We will also be discussing possible natural hazard management and adaptation responses.

Please come along if you can because these discussions are important to help guide us as we continue our work towards developing potential adaptation pathways together later in the year.

We also have an update about our social impact assessment project and the date of our next council programme report.

Community Workshop, 31 August 2023

We want your help to shape the direction and objectives of the Natural Hazards Adaptation Strategy. What should it aim to achieve?

Building on previous engagement sessions and community feedback, let’s get together again to talk about the future of the Head of Lake Whakatipu in the face of natural hazard and climate change challenges.

Alongside ORC and QLDC representatives, the aim of this workshop is to start creating a natural hazards adaption strategy based on guiding principles which reflect community and mana whenua values and objectives.

The strategy, which is due to be completed by June 2024, will be an overarching guide of what we need to do, what’s most important, and what’s feasible.

We also want to discuss possible hazard management and adaptation responses, including the opportunities, constraints, and realities of implementing different responses at the head of the lake.

These discussions are important to help guide us as we continue our work towards developing potential adaptation pathways together later in the year.

If you’d like to recap where we are at with this adaptation programme, please visit our website to see the reports and get answers.

Natural Hazards Adaptation — Community Workshop Details

Where: Glenorchy Community Hall

When: Thursday 31 August

• Join us in the afternoon from 1-3pm with refreshments

• OR join us in the evening from 6-8pm with a sausage sizzle

   

• Please note — if you are unable to make either of these sessions, you will be able to provide feedback online. More details, including a link to the feedback form, will be available in our next newsletter.  

Image: Rees River Delta

The social impact assessment project

In our last newsletter, we gave you an update on the social impact assessment project.

Social impacts refer to changes to the wellbeing of individuals and communities, which occur when human actions or natural events alter the way people live, work, play, and participate as a member of society. Social impacts be negative or positive.

This information will help us inform our decision-making and adaptation pathways. 

Thank you to the Glenorchy Community Association for its feedback on the proposed scope.

Your suggestions have been incorporated into Phase 1 of the project, which is the tender advertisement for an independent consultant to undertake the assessment. This was posted on Friday, 28 July.

We are continuing work on defining Phase 2 and will have an update for you later in the year.

Keep an eye out, as there will be other ways for community members to be involved at different steps of the social impact assessment. You can also get in touch with us at any time to ask questions or provide comments.  

Image: View of Glenorchy along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd

Our next council update

On Thursday, 10 August, we will be presenting a report to the ORC Safety and Resilience Committee to update ORC councillors about the Head of Lake Whakatipu work programme.

Key updates in our report include what we are doing to develop a Natural Hazards Adaptation Strategy, our planned associated community engagement activities, and the social impact assessment status. 

On Monday, the report will be included on the committee meeting agenda here. You can also follow the discussion of the report at the ORC Safety and Resilience Committee meeting here.

Image: Mt Alfred

As always, we value your feedback

This adaptation programme was initiated because complex, increasing natural hazards in the Head of Lake Whakatipu require a comprehensive management response that takes a long-term view and encompasses all types of natural hazards.

This is your community, and we want to work with you to develop understanding and resilience. Check here to learn more about the whole programme.

If you have questions or need information, visit our website to see the reports and get answers.

You can also contact ORC Natural Hazards Manager Jean-Luc Payan on 0800 474 082 or email us for more information at headofthelake@orc.govt.nz.

This email will go to our Natural Hazards team, and we will provide responses to any emailed questions and facilitate answers from our consultants if needed.

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Contacts

If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with us, please email us at headofthelake@orc.govt.nz.