A comprehensive draft strategy to manage the flood risk faced by the communities of Lakes Wakatipu and Wanaka was released today.

The joint strategy, which formalises the responsibilities and accountabilities of the Otago Regional Council, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the community, will be tabled for adoption by both councils on Tuesday next week (October 3).

"We now have a clear understanding of the past, present and future of flooding in this district. This is a critical document," QLDC Mayor Clive Geddes said.

Significant flooding had occurred on five occasions in the last 150 years, three of them since 1994, the last flood being 1999 and costing Queenstown alone, $56 million in lost revenue and rehabilitation.

"This strategy has responded to evidence that flood risk is increased by the effect of climate change.  We are not dealing with a question of if it floods again, we are dealing with when," Otago Regional Council Chairman Stephen Cairns said.

Analysis of historical, recorded annual levels for both Lakes Wakatipu and Wanaka showed that the annual mean and annual maximum lake level had been increasing.

"Both councils have reached agreement that the impact on communities in the catchments below Queenstown from physically altering the environment and community resistance against such options make them untenable.  The strategy was specifically tasked with how to manage flood risk, not eliminate it," Mr Geddes said.

The strategy, entitled 'Learning to Live with Flooding' confirmed an agreed, integrated approach to a raft of measures.

"This is a significant step forward and is the first regional application of the Draft National Flood Protocol.  As a consequence both councils will be involved in actioning a number of initiatives focusing on communication, education, awareness and structural measures," Mr Cairns said.

The initiatives were detailed in the strategy and included the following principles:

• Improve understanding of the flood hazard (during 2006/2007 the ORC will undertake further investigations of the effect of the Shotover delta on the Lake Wakatipu flood hazard so that the delta can be appropriately managed and will further monitor and report on long-term trends in climate and lake levels on an ongoing basis.
• A separate investigation of the unique lake and stream flood hazard facing Glenorchy will take place during 2006/2007).
• Develop and maintain robust warning, prediction, communications and response and recovery systems (the ORC will maintain a flood warning system. QLDC will ensure the community is prepared).
• Enhance individual and community capacity to manage flood risk and clearly define the roles of ORC, QLDC and the community.
• Incorporate flood awareness and risk management planning into all urban design and development initiatives.
• Manage risks posed to, and by, utilities infrastructure and services during a flood event (QLDC will design and construct all new and replaced utility infrastructure in a manner that allows its continued functioning during, and rapid recovery after, a flood).
• Where significant residual risk remains, appropriate capital and maintenance works to reduce the impact of flood events and enable expedient restoration of council services (ORC will investigate the feasibility of training and vegetation control works on the Shotover delta to minimise the likelihood of the Lake Wakatipu flood hazard increasing. QLDC will incorporate appropriate works into asset planning programmes).
• Work together on an ongoing, regular basis to review and update this Strategy and the associated initiatives.
• The councils would also jointly launch a series of information brochures entitled A guide to flood proofing your building and contents, A guide to flood response in Glenorchy and What to do in a flood in the Queenstown CBD.

"These brochures are the culmination of extensive consultation and bring together all the lessons of recent flood events. The work has resulted in invaluable information for anybody owning property susceptible to flooding," Mr Geddes said.

Once launched the brochure series would be widely distributed and made available at council offices and on council websites.

ENDS

For further information please contact Duncan Field 03 441 0499 or Graeme Martin 050 474 082 (freephone).

By: Sarah