Kia ora koutou,
On 21 May, we reached a significant milestone when the Head of Lake Whakatipu Natural Hazards Adaptation Strategy (the Strategy) was endorsed by ORC councillors.
The Strategy is a partnership between ORC, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Civil Defence Emergency Management Otago (CDEM) and the local community, and has been developed in collaboration with mana whenua representatives.
The first version of the Strategy brings together more than five years of work. This work programme has also contributed a substantial body of knowledge on natural hazards in the area, including an updated understanding of seismic risks and flood hazards. This information will support more informed and proactive decision making on adaptation for the Head of Lake Whakatipu area now and in the future.
During the feedback process, the draft Strategy received strong community support, with 80% of respondents agreeing with the Strategy’s vision. Respondents regarded the Strategy as practical and science-based, and they appreciated that it was developed through an inclusive, collaborative process.
On that note, we’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the creation of the Strategy, which is a great example of community collaboration. The Strategy reflects this shared ownership and the need for coordinated planning to address the multiple challenges natural hazards present in this area.
There are two versions of the Strategy available on our website: the full version and an overview. You can access both using the links below:
Download the full Strategy document.
Download the Strategy overview document.
We plan to send the next edition of this newsletter in November, unless we have a significant community update in the meantime.
