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Adaptation update: September 2023
We have an opportunity to present our own local observations to parliament’s Environment Committee, which is holding an inquiry into climate adaptation.
The two cyclones that devastated Auckland and the East Coast earlier this year have led to an increased accent on what practical steps can be taken to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Two papers published in August sum up the current position in Aotearoa/NZ with respect to adaptation, both with a focus on managed retreat.
The Ministry for the Environment’s contribution is: Community-led Retreat and Adaptation Funding: Issues and Options.
The other is the product of an expert working group: Report of the Expert Working Group on Managed Retreat: A Proposed System for Te Hekenga Rauora/ Planned Relocation. a technical report into retreat
We can apply the information in these two papers to the situation in Eastbourne and the Bays. The papers deal with broad principles and options, but we have an opportunity to present our own local observations to parliament’s Environment Committee, which is holding an inquiry into climate adaptation. Submissions close on 01 November 2023.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-
submission/document/53SCEN_SCF_A3FE0E05-8ABB-418D-8F44-
08DBA45709B6/inquiry-into-climate-adaptation
Some of the factors specific to this area are:
- The potential impacts of heavy rainfall on slope stability on the hills and how these could be mitigated
- Access out of the Bays in a weather emergency
- Flooding in low-lying areas like Muritai
- Longer-term impacts of sea level rise
- What managed retreat might look like for this area, if it were found to be necessary in future
For some of these issues we already have useful information, or can draw on expert advice. For example, slope stability on the western hills and how this could be enhanced was analysed in an engineering report to the Hutt Council in 2005. This drew on recent experiences of slips during heavy rainfall. Its recommendations remain useful - few of them were ever actioned. In terms of potential flooding, the area south of Point Howard is
one of the last places for which Wellington Water is still to produce a detailed map. With luck, this will be available in time to be considered as part of a submission (it was due to be published in July).
Given that there is an election due next month, the fate of any submission is unknown, but it would be a valuable exercise for putting together an account of what people here see as the principal adaptation issues for Eastbourne and the Bays. A similar exercise is being undertaken by the 4R group in Wellington. They are keen to keep in touch.
The terms of reference for the select committee inquiry are at:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-
submission/document/53SCEN_SCF_A3FE0E05-8ABB-418D-8F44-
08DBA45709B6/inquiry-into-climate-adaptation . If you would like to take part in the submission process, please contact: John Horrocks 0210233 2661 or horrocjb@gmail.com. You can also contact David Lillis sigma@outlook.co.nz |
