Built: • Building affected become unusable and if not destroyed are usually beyond repair. Natural Environment: It is a natural process and the result is that the land needs to be recolonised from bare silt and mud. How do we The northern and eastern town perimeter sites were identified in Marlborough’s South manage this risk? Urban Growth Strategy, a town planning project designed to find suitable land which could be re-zoned to meet the needs of long-term population growth. This work was done prior to the Canterbury earthquakes and since than Council has taken a precautionary approach and engaged scientists to evaluate the risk of liquefaction in these areas. The resulting geo-technical report suggests the high cost of treating the land and of constructing appropriate foundations, coupled with the costs and risks to water and sewerage services and roads, makes these areas now unsuitable for rezoning. The future of a site to the north side of Old Renwick Road – 35 ha. on the edge of Springlands – is not so clear. Initial testing suggests the ground conditions vary across this area and further investigation has been recommended before re-zoning decisions are made. Land-owners have received letters advising them of the contents of the report. Council staff have begun the process of examining other potential areas which may be suitable for housing expansion on the perimeter of the current urban area. What more • Council is already taking a precautionary approach to rezoning land for residential should we be subdivision. doing? • The likelihood of liquefaction occurring within the existing built environment of Blenheim are less understood and research may be beneficial. What is the future • Population projections suggest another 2500 houses will be needed in Blenheim risk? over the next 20 years so pressure will come on Council to free up land for subdivision. • Given the likelihood of a significant earthquake occurring the odds of an event that will cause liquefaction grow smaller every year. Terrorism Overview Terrorism is an ever increasing threat in the world we live in. At this stage there has not been an event in New Zealand however it seems plausible that a terror attack will be carried out during the life of this plan. Where attacks have occurred emergency services are often overwhelmed and the community remains traumatised afterwards. Hazard Likelihood Rare (E) Hazard Social: Consequence (5) • Apart from initial deaths an attack would change society’s values and import a fear currently unknown in the communities. Economic: • NZ is seen as one of the safest places in the world to visit and an attack would impact hugely on the country’s tourist industry. Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2017-2022 Page 102