1. Introduction 1.1 Setting the Scene The Civil Defence Emergency Management Act (CDEM) 2002 requires the establishment of CDEM Groups. There are 16 CDEM Groups throughout New Zealand. A CDEM Group is usually made up of a consortium of local authorities that share a common geography and gain a synergy from combining their CDEM function. The boundaries of the Marlborough CDEM Group are the same as the boundaries of the Marlborough District Council, a unitary authority that performs both district and regional council functions. The Marlborough CDEM Group area is shown in Figure 1. Marlborough’s strength as a Group is its strong member agency relationships. The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) carried out a Marlborough Group Capability Assessment in 2014 and assessed it as being in the mature category with a score of 80.2 out of 100. This was a significant improvement on the 62.2 in 2009 however there were still some notable opportunities for improvement. These were particularly in the welfare, recovery and lifelines areas and a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) has been completed which looks to address these issues. The Plan looks to support the CAP and ensure that all the opportunities are taken advantage of and embedded into the Groups operations by the end of the lifetime of this Plan through regular monitoring by the CEG. 1.1.1 Who this Plan is for Target audiences are individuals and agencies with roles and responsibilities in addressing hazards and risks in the Marlborough District under the CDEM Act, being: Emergency services and community support agencies – in support of their readiness, response and recovery planning and delivery. Lifeline utilities (including local authority services) – to link with their strategic risk reduction and operational planning for emergency readiness, response and recovery of services. Government departments – to integrate national planning and service delivery in support of local CDEM management. Welfare services agencies – given the new arrangements in the National CDEM Plan 2015 this plan outlines the roles and expectations of agencies involved in this new environment. Members of the public will gain an overview of how the above agencies are planning to manage hazards and risks in their region. The strategy oself-eliance initiayeles on te individual ad they must be aware of the hazards and risks and the level of support they can expect. Specific information on local hazard management, emergency procedures and self-preparedness are available on the Marlborough District Council website and within relevant public policies and plans of local councils, government departments and local community organisations. APPENDIX ALISTS THE MARLBOROUGH CDEMPRIMARY AND STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDERS. 1.1.2 Plan Purpose The process of formulating the Group Plan ensures there is a common agreement amongst the Group members of the hazards to be addressed and a binding commitment to shared future objectives. The mechanisms needed to reach the goals are agreed and documented. The Marlborough CDEM Group Plan therefore strengthens the relationship between agencies involved in CDEM and fosters greater cooperation between them. The Group Plan is both a statement of intent and a working document by which progress can be measured. Intermediate steps are identified and are to be used to chart progress towards the wider targets. Although the Plan is current for five years it addresses the short, medium and long term aspirations of the community both for the duration of the Plan and beyond. The Group Plan includes a specific chapter on monitoring and evaluation to ensure it remains current and is up to date throughout its life. Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2018-2023 Page 4