The Marlborough Group Civil Defence and Emergency Management Plan 2017-22 will meet the requirements of Sections 48 and 49(2) of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002. In so doing it forms a link between the national strategy for New Zealand and the citizens of Marlborough. A Group Plan is aimed at a wide range of individuals and groups. It addresses a variety of threats and hazards and considers how these may be dealt with before, during and after they occur. Its basic principle remains simple – to encapsulate a vision of improved emergency management for the Marlborough District and map the route to achieving it. 1.1.3 Plan Status and Change This is the third Marlborough CDEM Group Plan. The Draft Plan was publicly notified in July 2016 and submissions were considered together with the Minister’s comment before the final revised Plan was approved by the Marlborough CDEM Group in February 2017 and took effect from that time. Minor amendments have been made to the plan in 2018 and a strategic recovery section has been added to comply with changes to the CDEM Act that came into effect on 1 June 2018. This Plan will remain in effect for five years from the date of approval until reviewed by the Group and either amended, revoked, replaced or left unchanged. The CDEM Act 2002 (s56, s57) sets out a public process by which amendments can be made to the Plan and, other than those deemed to be “minor”, any amendments to the Plan are required to be publicly notified to allow affected parties to lodge submissions. 1.2 The Marlborough Context 1.2.1 The District The area covered by the CDEM Group and this Plan is shown in Figure 1. Marlborough covers around 3.9% of the country’s total land area. Of note is that its land area of 1.05 million has is almost matched by its marine area of 725,000 has which adds a level of complexity to Council’s responsibilities. As a result the District has an extensive coastline for its land area which extends for over 1,750 kms most of which makes up the Marlborough Sounds. The total population was 43,416 in the 2013 Census and is increasing. The growing number of visitors and itinerant workers means this fluctuates significantly during the summer and viticulture seasons. Table 1: Marlborough Land Cover Land Cover Area in has Percentage covered Indigenous vegetation 164,909 16% Indigenous forest 362,035 34% Pasture/grassland 311,258 30% Gravel, rock, alpine areas and river beds 79,144 7.5% Horticulture/viticulture 32,891 3% Exotic forest 10,791 1% Lake/estuary 3,585 0.3% Urban, roads and artificial surfaces 3,090 0.3% Because much of the Marlborough region is sheltered by high country to the west, south and in some areas to the east, it is one of New Zealand's sunniest regions. Warm, dry and settled weather predominates during summer. Winter days often start with a frost, but are usually mild overall. Typical summer daytime maximum air temperatures range from 20°C to 26°C, but occasionally rise above 30°C. Late winter and early spring is normally the most unsettled time of the year. Typical winter daytime Marlborough Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2018-2023 Page 5