Green light for coastal hazards adaptation planning

Christchurch City Council has agreed to start adaptation planning with low-lying coastal and inland communities likely to be impacted by rising sea levels.

The first communities it will be engaging with are those in the Whakaraupō / Lyttelton Mt Herbert area.

“We have a big coastline and a lot of low-lying land, so one of the most significant challenges facing us is how do we respond to the coastal hazards caused by climate change and sea level rise,’’ says Urban Development and Transport Committee Chair, Councillor Mike Davidson.

“First up, it’s important we have a city-wide conversation about the adaptation planning process as there are implications for all residents, not just people living in coastal and low-lying communities. We have some big decisions ahead of us that will likely have an impact not just on this generation, but on generations to come.

“We then need to work closely with our first tranche of communities, to develop an adaptation plan together.

“The adaptation planning programme that we have formally endorsed today is based on the Ministry for the Environment’s guidance and puts community engagement at the centre of our decision-making,’’ Cr Davidson says.

The Council will be running three information sessions in late November/early December to give interested residents across the district an opportunity to learn more about the coastal hazards adaptation planning programme.

The sessions will be held on:

• Monday 23 November: 6pm – 7:30pm Allandale Hall, Governors Bay
• Wednesday 2 December: 6pm – 7:30pm, Metropolitan Lounge, the Tannery
• Thursday 3 December: 6pm – 7:30pm, North Beach Memorial Hall

Find out more about the Council's coastal hazards adaptation planning programme.