File photo. Photo: RNZ / Kymberlee Gomes
An Otago community at risk of flooding, earthquakes and liquefaction has generally high levels of readiness - but newcomers and visitors may not be as resilient, a new report has found.
Strategic planning is underway to help communities at the head of Lake Whakatipu, including Glenorchy, adapt to natural hazards.
The Otago Regional Council has released the first phase of its socio-economic impact assessment, which found the community was well-functioning and motivated.
The community had access to a range of skills and resources to support them in the short term, but it was likely they would need external support to respond and recover in the longer term.
"The community is largely aware of the unpredictability of nature and that living in the area means being susceptible to natural hazard events. Most research participants demonstrated a high level of preparedness," the report said.
It detailed a number of vulnerable sections of the community, including tourists, older people, temporary or low-income workers, the unemployed and families without extended family in the area.
The community had become increasingly reliant on tourism and hospitality, both of which were susceptible to natural hazards given the expected impacts on the environment and access, the report said.
"A major natural hazard event also has a potential to impact visitor confidence to return to the area. A key issue for the community both socially and economically is therefore the resilience of access to/from, and within the Head of Lake Whakatipu area, as this is key to the community's social and economic wellbeing."
Otago Regional Council natural hazards manager Jean-Luc Payan said the assessment would inform their work and the strategy, and it was requested by the community.
"This study highlights the depth of local knowledge and resources in the community, and an already high level of resilience, as well as some vulnerabilities.
"Adaptation planning is community-centred, so this report helps both the council and community make more informed decisions about how to adapt."
The report built on the technical studies and engagement with the community.
"It gathers information on the social and economic baseline of the community and explores how social and economic wellbeing could be impacted by natural hazard events.
"This includes community cohesion and readiness, awareness of the hazards, the risks they present, and the ability to recover from a natural hazard event," Payan said.
Glenorchy Community Association chairperson John Glover said the study captured the lived experience and knowledge base of the community.
"We're working as a community on a number of fronts to increase our readiness, resilience, and subsequent response to the natural hazards that all of us living here are very much aware of."
The assessment will be presented to the council's safety and resilience committee on Wednesday.
