Project Leader (PI): Dr Wendy Saunders, Senior Natural Hazards Planner, GNS Science, MNZPI
Associate Investigators:
James Mathieson, GNS Science, Natural Hazards Planner, Grad. NZPI
Maureen Coomer, GNS Science, Research Technician
William Ries, GNS Science, GIS Specialist
Project Abstract:
Land use planning is a key tool in reducing risks from natural hazards. Decision makers require evidence to inform decisions, particularly around managing natural hazards. So are councils including active faults in their
plans, and if so, how? It is currently unknown whether all councils with active faults in their district are acknowledging and planning for faults within their district plans. We will fill this gap and evaluate how active
faults are being incorporated into land use plans by utilising two databases: the 2014 content analysis of all operative district plans; and the Active Fault Database. This research will also outline the findings of a legal opinion on hazard disclosure in Land Information Memorandums (LIMs), and the implications for active faults, supported by the It’s Our Fault (IOF) research project on LIMs. Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA), territorial authorities must issue a LIM on request. Although a static means of communication, LIMs contribute to hazard awareness, and have the potential to increase people’s understanding of hazards and risks. One of the challenges that Councils face is when information should be included in a LIM i.e. at what scale, and how?