Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Climate change: 'Managed retreat' on table for South Dunedin suburbs to be converted to wetlands

4 Jul, 2022 06:46 PM3 minutes to read
Climate Change Minister James Shaw reveals the Govt's proposed National Adaptation Plan, aimed at helping coastal communities adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Video / NZ Herald

Climate Change Minister James Shaw reveals the Govt's proposed National Adaptation Plan, aimed at helping coastal communities adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Video / NZ Herald

Otago Daily Times
By Oscar Francis

Replacing parts of South Dunedin with wetlands and waterways has been raised as a possible final outcome as regional and city councillors consider a programme to examine how the area should adapt to climate change.

The proposal for the programme has been developed jointly by the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council as part of the South Dunedin Future programme.

Read More

  • NZ climate change adaptation plan to tackle costs and ...
  • Climate change: Government releases New Zealand's emissions ...
  • Climate change worsened Westport deluge - study - NZ ...
  • Major climate change report's stark outlook: Window ...

The city council will discuss the proposed strategy at a meeting of the planning and environment committee tomorrow, while the regional council will discuss it at the meeting of its strategy and planning committee next Wednesday.

If the draft plan is approved by both committees, the programme's next step would be to transition to a delivery stage over a four-year process.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

While the proposed plan would not provide pathways to deliver solutions until 2026, it notes there would be no requirement to wait until the programme was finalised to begin influencing business-as-usual decision-making at the council.

South Dunedin area is prone to natural hazards likely to be exacerbated by climate change as it was built on a former wetland. Illustration / Otago Daily Times
South Dunedin area is prone to natural hazards likely to be exacerbated by climate change as it was built on a former wetland. Illustration / Otago Daily Times

The core budget for the plan is expected to be $920,000 each year, $500,000 of which would come from the city council and the rest from the regional council.

The executive summary report accompanying the draft plan suggests climate adaptation might work across four areas: adapting to hazards, creating barrier infrastructure, managing retreat and avoiding future development in high-risk areas.

Over decades the "current mosaic of land use" in South Dunedin might be reshaped into a less evenly developed form, with parks, wetlands and open water courses which might flood periodically.

Greater intensification in other parts could be enabled by additional infrastructure and could possibly result in mid-rise residential, commercial and industrial use.

The draft plan notes the South Dunedin area is particularly vulnerable to natural hazards, including storm surges, tsunamis, run-off flooding and liquefaction, which are likely to be exacerbated by climate change as it was built on a former wetland.

Related articles

New Zealand

Hotel boss forced to make beds as Aussies swarm Queenstown

04 Jul 06:00 PM
New Zealand|Crime

'Uninhabitable by any reasonable person': Tenant from hell ordered to pay $30k for damage to rental

04 Jul 06:34 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Officer gets Covid after enraged woman breathes in his face

04 Jul 04:52 AM
New Zealand

Ex Domino's worker wins $15K for lost wages and hurt feelings after losing job

04 Jul 05:15 AM

The low-lying area covered by the plan includes the land from the south side of the Oval to Lawyers Head, encompassing Caversham, South Dunedin, Forbury, St Kilda, St Clair and parts of Andersons Bay and Tainui.

An estimated 12,000 residents call the area home.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Councillors have the option of adopting the recommended approach, which would give the programme a dedicated staff and operating budget, and an alternative approach which would continue the status quo of the programme being delivered through business-as-usual functions of the councils.

While the report stresses it is not yet known how South Dunedin might adapt to a changing climate, it suggests one possible outcome of the proposed programme could be deintensification of high-risk areas of South Dunedin, with intensification in other areas to compensate.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New ZealandUpdated

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges

20 Aug 01:05 AM
New Zealand

'Should not be approached': Wellington police seek wanted man

20 Aug 12:52 AM
New Zealand

Evacuations in Wellington after slips

20 Aug 12:39 AM
New Zealand

'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight

20 Aug 12:20 AM
New ZealandUpdated

Watch: Car thief in pink undies caught in the act after online ownership scam

20 Aug 12:00 AM

Most Popular

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges
New ZealandUpdated

Covid: 3302 new cases, 10 deaths as dominant strain of virus emerges

20 Aug 01:05 AM
'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight
New Zealand

'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight

20 Aug 12:20 AM
Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent
New Zealand

Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent

19 Aug 09:35 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP