Friday 14 March 2014

International risk expert at natural hazard forum

An international risk expert joins a line up of local specialists at Our Changing Environment, a free community forum on living with natural hazards, in Christchurch this Saturday.

United Kingdom-based expert on risk and uncertainty Tony Taig, along with speakers from Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury, will outline natural hazards and their consequences in Christchurch and different views on what level of risk is acceptable.

Tony has been involved in developing and applying risk ideas and methods internationally, and has worked extensively in New Zealand on natural hazard risks, including work with the Council, GNS Science, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and others on risk issues following the 2010/11 Canterbury Earthquakes.

Other specialists will discuss the science behind natural hazards including flooding, sea level rise and land instability in the Port Hills. A District Plan Review is currently underway and the proposed response to natural hazards will be outlined.

Council Chief Planning Officer Mike Theelen says last week’s flooding event and the forecast for more extreme weather on Sunday are stark reminders that Christchurch needs to anticipate and respond to a wide range of natural hazards.

“This forum will look at the science behind the risks we face in Christchurch from natural hazards, and discuss how the Council, other key agencies and communities can work together to meet the challenges we face from our changing environment.”

The ‘Our Changing Environment’ forum will be held on Saturday 15 March from 9.30am–4.30pm at the Salvation Army Hall, 250 Colombo Street, Sydenham. There will be an introductory session followed by two parallel sessions on flooding and land instability. This format will run once in the morning from 9.30am–12.30pm and then again in the afternoon from 1pm–4pm. People can also drop in anytime to talk about the issues our community faces.

For more information, visit www.ccc.govt.nz/naturalhazards

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