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HEAD OF LAKE WHAKATIPU

COMMUNITY UPDATE 34 | MARCH 2024

Kia ora koutou,

Our March edition provides a progress update for three studies:

• Flood and erosion mitigation and nature-based solutions feasibility assessment, which investigates potential floodplain hazard management approaches for the Dart-Rees floodplain and the Glenorchy township.

• Glenorchy and Kinloch natural hazard risk assessment.

• Socio-economic impact assessment, which looks at the community profile and socio-economic impacts of the various hazard events under “status quo” management actions.  

We also have a new team member to introduce you to! Read all about Natural Hazards Analyst Jen Simon below.

Flood and erosion mitigation and nature-based solutions feasibility assessment

An assessment of potential engineered flood and erosion management and a ‘nature-based solutions’ approach for the Rees and Dart floodplain areas and the Glenorchy township is in progress with the team from Damwatch Ltd. This project, which is partially funded by the Ministry for the Environment through the ‘Nature Based Solutions for Resilience Planning’ programme, is due to be completed by the middle of the year.

Image: Site visit in January

You might have seen them around as consultants from Damwatch joined Tim and Simon from our Natural Hazards Analysis team for a site visit to the Dart and Rees Rivers and Glenorchy in late January. The purpose of the site visit was to give the consultant team a thorough overview of the floodplain area and the flooding challenges they are assessing in their study.

Image: Site visit in January

Glenorchy and Kinloch natural hazard risk assessment

Led by consultants at Beca, the natural hazard risk assessment project is progressing well. The first phase of assessment is near completion, and a second phase of more detailed assessments will be starting shortly. These detailed risk assessments are expected to focus on; flooding from the Rees and Dart rivers, Lake Whakatipu and the Buckler Burn, and liquefaction and lateral spreading at Glenorchy.

Image: View over the Glenorchy wetlands

Socio-economic impact assessment

Beca is undertaking a socio-economic impact assessment for the Head of Lake Whakatipu area, due to be completed by May. The first phase is nearly complete, following a review process. Through the GCA, the community were invited to provide feedback on the draft report.

The second phase of the socio-economic impact assessment will focus on screening a long list of possible adaptation responses for socio-economic risks and opportunities. At this stage, this is a high-level screening to inform the next steps of the programme. We’d like to thank everyone for their time and contribution to the socio-economic impact assessment.

Image: View towards Kinloch

Meet the Team

Jen Simon – Natural Hazards Analyst

Image: Jen Simon

Welcome to Jen, who joined the Natural Hazards Analysis team this February. She has recently finished her master’s degree in Disaster Risk and Resilience at University of Canterbury and is very excited to join the team at ORC.

Jen originally hails from Texas but has found that New Zealand is the only place that feels like home. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, scuba diving, and painting.

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 speak to a member of the ORC Natural Hazards team on 0800 474 082 or email us for more information at headofthelake@orc.govt.nz.

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.