New maps for Tauranga Harbour coastal erosion
Western Bay of Plenty District Council has been mapping and planning for natural hazards since the 1990s.
Council is currently reviewing its natural hazard maps for the District and reviewing how the risks from those natural hazards will be managed.
Council is working on this project with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council.
Hazards being investigated include:
- Flooding (from extreme rainfall)
- Coastal inundation (flooding from the sea)
- Coastal erosion
- Land instability
- Liquefaction
- Tsunami
- Active faults
- Volcanic hazards.
Council's Group Manager Policy, Planning and Regulatory Services Rachael Davie, says improving the accuracy of hazard maps is more critical than ever due to the increasing legislative requirements around climate change, reducing natural hazard risk, and ensuring preparedness and response to natural disasters.
"The mapping information will help people make informed decisions about undertaking building works, buying property or preparing for a natural disaster.
"As we complete the mapping of each hazard, we will notify landowners and put the information on Council's website, on property files and in any land information memoranda (LIMs) requested for properties," says Rachael.
Council will also use the maps when processing resource consents, project information memoranda and building consents to ensure that the risk from natural hazards to people and buildings is assessed.
Mapping of all natural hazards will take at least five years due to the District's size and geographical diversity.
The latest mapping we have available is for:
- Coastal erosion along the Tauranga Harbour.
Council has sent letters to 300 affected landowners and has included the new information on the natural hazards' web page.
This new information improves understanding of the risks that sea level rise could create and how Western Bay of Plenty's harbour margins may respond to those potential changes over the coming 100 years.
Council is also in the process of mapping other natural hazards and this information is expected to be available in a few months' time.
- Coastal inundation along the Tauranga Harbour
- Flooding at Omokoroa and Katikati
- Tsunami along the Tauranga Harbour
- Tsunami at Waihi Beach, Athenree and Bowentown
The remainder of natural hazard maps for the District will be completed over the coming years.
Council's natural hazards webpage has an updated list of "Mapping Projects and Timeframes" to keep people informed of what's happening.
For more information visit Council's natural hazards webpage or call Council's customer services team on 0800 926 732.
