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An overview of natural hazards for the Hamilton City Council

TR 2014/04
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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.

Read or download the report

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