We live in a Region that is vulnerable to, and has suffered through, many natural hazard events.
Natural hazards are outside of human control, so Horizons’ focus is on planning to avoid their effects and impacts. Today over half of the Regions population lives on the floodplains of major rivers. New information about climate change proves that floods are going to get bigger and more frequent over the next few decades. The proposed One Plan recognizes development undertaken today needs to take into account that the natural hazards events of tomorrow will be very different.
Keeping our communities safe from natural hazards is a key goal of the proposed One Plan. Horizons intends to do this by working closely with local councils to ensure that land development does not increase hazard risks or put people or property in places of risk. The proposed One Plan sets out clear policy that will discourage residential development and the placement of critical infrastructure in areas prone to natural hazards, particularly areas at high risk of flooding. A precautionary approach shall also been taken to account for the effects of climate change.
Horizons will continue to play a key role in providing the public and city and district councils with information about hazards, particularly about flooding.