Room for more at ‘Living with risk’ sessions

27 February 2014

Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff are pleased with interest so far in the ’Living with risk’ community sessions scheduled for the week of 10 March, but say there’s still plenty of room for more people to attend.

“Sessions are being held in Rotorua, Whakatāne, Tauranga, Paengaroa and Ōpōtiki. Food and spot prizes will be provided. Anyone that would like to attend can call us on 0800 884 880 or visit www.boprc.govt.nz/livingwithrisk for more information,” said Bay of Plenty Regional Council Planner Martin Butler.

“The focus of the sessions will be on getting community feedback to help set broad, high level regional policy for managing the risk of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or tsunami. When finalised, the policy will guide district and city plan rules and resource consent requirements,” he said.

“Rules can be put in place to control activities like residential and business development in hazard prone areas. These need to be balanced with allowing people the freedom to do the things that make living in the Bay of Plenty great,” said Mr Butler.

Mr Butler said that regional, city and district councils across the Bay of Plenty region are continuing to work at many levels to plan for and respond to the impacts of natural hazards.

“Currently councils are working on many operational activities to respond to natural hazards such as Tauranga City Council’s work to identify tsunami safe zones and evacuation routes. That work will keep going and there will be separate processes for involving and sharing information with the community on it,” he said.

ENDS

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