The Waimakariri community are being invited to view models and maps showing the possible extent of natural hazards on land in the Waimakariri District – which have been updated to provide the best possible information for landowners looking to buy, build or develop.

The maps and models are available at Waimakariri.govt.nz/letstalk.

Hazard information being updated includes:

• Flooding – from rainfall, coastal inundation and stop bank breach
• Tsunami
• Liquefaction
• Fault lines.

Development Planning Manager Trevor Ellis says improving the accuracy of hazard maps is an important bit of work due to changed legislative requirements around climate change, reducing natural hazard risk, and ensuring preparedness and response to natural disasters.

Hazard maps are used when processing resource consents, rezoning land, for project information memoranda and building consents to ensure that the risk from natural hazards to people and buildings is assessed.

They are also referred to on land information memorandum (LIMs) for buyers and sellers of property. The maps will also inform new planning provisions as part of the District Plan Review.

At this stage, the Council is still deciding how best to respond to the updated information, both in terms of reviewing planning rules, as well as considering how it will affect the community and its assets into the future.

Community engagement on draft map info was undertaken in September 2019. Since then, investigation, reporting and modelling has occurred, and has now been finalised and adopted by the Council.

The new information will improve understanding of the risks within the Waimakariri District.

“Updating these maps is an ongoing process – the environment is dynamic and constantly changing. As a Council we update our maps to show the latest information so property owners can make informed decisions before undertaking building works, buying property or preparing for a natural disaster.”

If you want to find out more about the natural hazard map update council staff are available to answer your questions online and are also holding in person drop in sessions. Details are below:

“We want to make sure people are aware of the updated maps and know we are available to answer any questions regarding the update,” says Trevor.

“The next step in this process is through the District Plan Review looking at how we can respond to this new info so any future development is done in as safe a way as possible.”