3.1.3 Objectives In response to the issues identified above, Marlborough CDEM has set the following objectives: Identify all hazard reduction stakeholders so as to promote collaborative risk reduction. Promote hazard research to all stakeholders and disseminate the information. Reduce risks from hazards through collaboration and coordination. Continue to make hazard data widely available to the public in a way that is easily understood and fosters action to minimise their potential impact. 3.2 Current Arrangements 3.2.1 Regulation The position of Marlborough as a single Council Group has advantages for the co-ordination of reduction activities. Much of the policy framework and statutory instruments are council functions and their co- ordination within Marlborough District Council is readily achieved. Departments within MDC work closely together in the formulation and implementation of environmental, economic and community strategic planning. The Regulatory Department is responsible for environmental policy, environmental science and monitoring, resource consent administration, building control, compliance and hazard management. Statutory requirements from central Government are readily incorporated into the planning process. The main instrument available to MDC to reduce the effects of natural hazards on its communities is the Resource Management Act 1991. Other legislation that is enacted largely through the Council includes: The Building Act 2004. Local Government Act 2002. CDEM Act 2002. Land Drainage Act 1908 and the Soil Conservation and River Control Act 1941. Biosecurity Act 1993. As a consequence of the single Council status there is no Reduction Committee in Marlborough as this role is carried out in-house. The Readiness and Response Committee, the Recovery Planning Committee and Engineering Lifelines Group provide a forum for the main stakeholders and reduction activities are incorporated into their processes. Reduction is also a topic on every CEG meeting agenda and is coordinated at that level. 3.2.2 Hazard Information MDC has made available a wide range of hazard data through the Council’s website: www.marlborough.govt.nz/ Through the Smart Maps site the public have access to the fire season status (ie; open, restricted or prohibited), location of biosecurity threats, Environmental Plan zoning, tsunami inundation models and Resource Management Plan data. Council also manages a number of weather stations and river monitoring equipment which show real time river flows (in cumecs), river levels (height) and rainfall. These are all available on one mapping site known as Floodwatch which has pre-determined alert levels which change colour depending on the size of the flood (eg; exceeds 10 years orange, exceeds 50 years red). Research reports on hazards such as liquefaction and active (earthquake) fault traces are also available. Groundwater levels in each particular aquifer are also monitored on tables which show previous year and variation trends since monitoring began. This information has proved particularly useful to engage with communities that are on limited supply during the drier months and has resulted in self-regulation of use. Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2017-2022 Page 29