Tauranga City Council held an open discussion at the environment committee workshop. Photo/File
Tauranga City Council held an open discussion at the environment committee workshop. Photo/File
Climate change has been a hot topic for the Tauranga City Council meeting this week, with the environment committee looking at ways to better understand the issue.
Climate change initiatives at a national, regional and local level were part of discussions at a workshop, giving members the chance todiscuss initiatives being implemented or considered by the coalition Government, national groups as well as regional and city councils.
The meeting showed that councils nationwide were making action plans while other organisations were looking at progressing the understanding of climate change and how New Zealand will need to respond and adapt.
Committee chairman Steve Morris said the issue was how to fund measures to combat climate change and other natural risks.
Morris said the council had a significant budget to be able to fund resilience measures at the "back end" of its 10-year Long Term Plan budget.
The budget included $5 billion over 10 years, including $2b for "capital works".
Morris said there was a strong argument for council pumping sea and ground water levels in the event of flooding at the north end of Mount Maunganui.
Ensuring plans were in place in case the river flooded near the urban development area of Te Tumu in Papamoa East, which was bounded by the Pacific Ocean and Kaituna River, was also to be considered.
