Flood resilience projects in Nelson Tasman will benefit from Government co-funding grants of $16.5 million, $6.6million of which will the Lower Motueka River stop bank refurbishment and $900,00 to the Peach Island stop bank repair, “is not a silver bullet,” said Council Team Leader Rivers and Coastal David Arseneau.

“It only goes so far, and there will always be a flood that is bigger than your stop banks.” (Read the full story here. )

It is important that we also implement other risk reduction measures, such as appropriate land use and building choices, to enable climate-resilient development in our communities.

Planning for resilience is a key focus of Council’s current work programme to review the natural hazards policy framework in the Tasman Resource Management Plan.

The review will include looking at how further development or intensification in low-lying coastal and river flood plain areas can be avoided or mitigated to ensure new development is climate resilient.

Current planning zones and natural hazards overlays will also be reviewed to reflect updated natural hazard information. By discouraging further development in vulnerable locations, the Council aims to prevent the situation from worsening and potentially endangering lives and property, as well as minimising the financial costs to communities.

Climate and natural hazard-resilient growth opportunities are being delivered in parallel through the development of the Urban Growth Plan Change (Plan Change 81).

“The Natural Hazards Plan Change work programme work now underway will span several years. An issues and options discussion document to be released March 2025 is the first step in informing a Natural Hazard’s Plan Change,” said team leader natural resources policy Diana Worthy.

The community will be invited to provide their comments and feedback on the issues and options.

“Tasman communities, with their unique geography, coupled with the impacts of climate change, are vulnerable to a range of threats. We anticipate that our district will experience more frequent and severe droughts, wildfires, and flooding due to changes in precipitation patterns.

“There are several earthquake faults in the district, including the Alpine Fault through St Arnaud. Coastal communities in Tasman will also face the challenges associated with rising sea levels and coastal hazards.”

“While this all may sound scary, it is the nature of living in New Zealand. It is important that we understand our natural hazards so households can make their own informed decisions on where to live, work and play. We can also reduce risk and enable community resilience through our resource management plan’s natural hazards provisions.”

“In preparation for next year’s issues and options community engagement we are planning a natural hazards information campaign for October and November this year. We are also watching closely central government’s work programme around natural hazards and climate adaptation to ensure our work aligns with any future national direction”