Chapter 16 - Natural Hazards Objective 2 Management of activities which could increase the frequency, severity or potential of natural hazards to cause loss of life or damage to property and infrastructure and other aspects of the environment. Policy 2.1 Locate new works and structures to avoid effects which increase the adverse effects of natural hazards. Policy 2.2 Avoid activities, including earthworks and vegetation clearance, increasing the risk of occurrence, or potential to cause damage, of natural hazards. The major concern relating to natural hazards is the loss of life. Other concerns relate to damage or destruction of property and infrastructure, loss of amenity values, restriction of public access, and interruption to land and water ecosystems. In determining whether protection works will be established, Council will consider: risk to human life; value of resources including value to tangata whenua; landscape and heritage values; and costs and benefits, effectiveness and value of such works. Sustainable management of resources requires consideration of the avoidance of the adverse effects of natural hazards. Where effects cannot be avoided then they should be remedied or mitigated to provide for community health, safety and wellbeing. 16.4 Methods of Implementation Rules Planning maps define known natural hazard prone areas. a) require assessment of the effects of the location and design of activities and structures on the occurrence of natural hazards in defined natural hazards prone areas; b) facilitate the maintenance of existing protection works and structures designed to avoid the effects of natural hazards; and c) require assessment of non-structural means of avoiding the effects of natural hazards or mitigating them when considering applications for protection works and structures. Designation Floodways will be designated to enable control of activities that may adversely affect the hydraulic efficiency of floodways. Research Monitor scientific findings to assess restrictions on activities relative to the occurrence of natural hazards, including sea level rise. Council will re-assess the information contained in the Natural Hazard maps within five years of the Plan becoming operative and will amend the maps if required. Information Maintain a Natural Hazard Register to co-ordinate all data relating to the occurrence of natural hazards. 16 - 3