An overview of natural hazards for the Hamilton City Council
Report: TR 2014/04
Author: M Dredge
About this report
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of natural hazards in Hamilton City as a basis for guiding and prioritising work activities for the Hamilton City Council and Waikato Regional Council for 2014/15 and beyond. This report also provides a useful insight into the district’s natural hazard risks as part of the scheduled review of the Hamilton City District Plan.
Both agencies have responsibilities for the management of natural hazards in accordance to a complex set of statutory responsibilities, but primarily the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991.
Known natural hazards in the Hamilton City district are identified and explained. A qualitative risk analysis is then undertaken, and an evaluation of the risk from each natural hazard is made as a basis for prioritising risks.
Earthquakes pose the greatest risk in terms of potential loss of human life, social disruption, economic cost and infrastructure damage. Severe wind is the second highest risk, followed by drought. The report also identifies various factors/considerations that are likely to affect natural hazard planning such as climate change and sea level rise.
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An overview of natural hazards for the Hamilton City Counci [PDF, 1.3 MB]l
| Contents | |
| Executive summary | |
| 1 | Introduction |
| 1.1 | Purpose |
| 1.2 | Statutory and legal framework |
| 1.3 | National drivers for hazard management |
| 1.4 | Key hazard planning considerations for Hamilton City Council |
| 2 | Profile of the Hamilton City District |
| 2.1 | General description |
| 3 | Physical setting |
| 3.1 | Geology |
| 3.2 | Climate |
| 4 | Natural hazards in the Hamilton City District |
| 4.1 | Introduction |
| 4.2 | Current and previous research |
| 4.3 | Earthquake hazards |
| 4.3.1 | Liquefaction |
| 4.4 | Severe wind |
| 4.5 | Drought |
| 4.5.1 | 2013 drought |
| 4.6 | Volcanic ash fall |
| 4.7 | Landslides |
| 4.8 | River flood hazards |
| 4.9 | Climate change |
| 5 | Risk assessment |
| 5.1 | Introduction |
| 5.2 | Description of scenarios |
| 5.3 | Risk assessment methodology |
| 5.4 | Analysis and evaluation |
| 5.5 | Residual risks |
| 5.6 | Conclusion |
| 6 | Summary, discussion and recommendations |
| 6.1 | Summary of natural hazard risks |
| 6.2 | Discussion |
| 6.3 | Recommemndations |
| 7 | Bibliography |
| 8 | Appendix 1: Statutory and legal framework |
| 8.1 | The Resource Managment Act (RMA) 1991 |
| 8.1.1 | Introduction |
| 8.1.2 | Long-term management strategies |
| 8.1.3 | Short-term management strategies |
| 8.2 | Resource management policy statements |
| 8.2.1 | Introduction |
| 8.2.2 | Resgional Policy Statement (RPS) |
| 8.2.3 | Hamilton City District Plan |
| 8.3 | Other hazard management statutes |
| 8.3.1 | Introduction |
| 8.3.2 | Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act 2002 |
| 8.3.3 | Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941 |
| 8.3.4 | Local Government Act 2002 |
| 8.3.5 | Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) |
| 8.3.6 | Building Act 1991 |
| 8.3.7 | Reserves Act 1977 |
| 9 | Appendix 2: HCC/WRC RMA functions |
| 10 | Appendix 3: RMA Section 330 |
| 10.1 | Provisions and discussion of Section 330 of the Resource Management Act 1991 |
| 11 | Appendix 4: RPS and natural hazards |
| 11.1 | Policy One: Consistent Management of Natural Hazards |
| 12 | Appendix 5: Other work |
| 12.1 | Hydraulic modelling |
| 12.2 | Categorisation of flood risk |
| 13 | Appendix 6: Key to Table 2 (risk analysis evaluation key) |
| 13.1 | Meausre of likelihood |
| 13.2 | Manageability and growth ratings |
| 13.3 | Measure of consequence of impact and seriousness |
| 13.4 | Qualitative risk matrix |