What is the future It is impossible for the biosecurity system to mitigate 100% of potential biosecurity risk? threats while enabling trade and travel. It is a question of when not if. A biosecurity risk will impact Marlborough’s economy and society at some time in the future. The likelihood of this threat increases each year. Electricity Failure Overview Electricity is distributed throughout most of Marlborough mainly by overhead lines but with underground cabling in central urban areas. Hazard Likelihood Hazards to electricity distributions are both environmental and consequences of human (D) causes such as mechanical equipment and vehicles. Hazard The most significant consequence arises from electricity, fuel and telecommunications Consequence (4) failure as these will have a knock-on effect on most other lifeline utility services. Social: • Most electricity users are dependent on the ongoing reliable supply with most users not having alternative for heating, lighting or cooking. • Worst-case scenario is a winter outage which may see a public health impact both in terms of lack of heating and lack of water supplies. Economic: • Severe disruption to all types of businesses that do not have standby generation. • Many businesses will cease trading without electricity due to reasons such as a lack of security and a loss of communications. Built: • Loss of electricity is likely to impact construction, processing and service industries with impacts on transport and tourism. • A prolonged outage would see severe disruption to water supply, fuel and telecommunications services. Natural Environment: • Damage to electricity lines and cables could result in hazards such as fallen lines, fire risks and human contact. How do we • Electricity networks are the subject of extensive asset management plans, public manage this risk? safety systems, tree clearance regulations and electricity safety regulations. What more • Checking the condition of an electricity network is ongoing with nts likely requirement should we be increase in the future. doing? What is the future • Risks in the future are likely to be similar to those impacting electricity networks risk? now although climate change may bring changes from rainfall, wind and dry environment impacts which could result in more vegetation wild fires. • More intense property developent ay also change the risk to the electricity network. Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2017-2022 Page 99