Community meetings for update on flood risk and resilience strategy for Anzac Parade

Residents and property owners on Whanganui’s Anzac Parade are invited to community meetings in December to get an update on a resilience strategy project for the area.

The update follows community consultation, commissioned by Horizons Regional Council and led by Massey University, to capture local views and experiences to help build shared understanding about Anzac Parade flood risk and resilience in a changing climate.

Horizons river management operations manager Kyle Russell says Massey research staff have been having one-on-one conversations with Anzac Parade residents over the last month.

“These conversations, along with many others held with iwi, Whanganui District Council and key stakeholders, will build the foundation of a strategy that aims to identify ways to reduce flood risk and increase community resilience along the most at-risk areas of Whanganui East,” he says.

“The meetings will also provide the opportunity to look at the results from Massey’s mapped flood risk scenarios, discuss possible response options, and outline next steps in preparing the strategy.”

The resident community meetings will take place at the Hakeke Community Centre from 9-11 December.

“Like many things community consultation has been delayed due to COVID-19 and conversations with the wider Whanganui community should hopefully take place in the new year,” says Mr Russell.

Feedback from Anzac Parade stakeholders, tangata whenua, Te Rūnanga o Tūpoho, Whanganui District Council and key agencies within central government will all be incorporated into the strategy and recommendations presented to Horizons Regional Council councillors in early-mid 2022.

Further information on the Anzac Parade resilience strategy can be found here.

Massey University Professor Bruce Glavovic and Dr. Martín García Cartagena, both experts in natural hazards planning, flood risk reduction, and community resilience building are leading the project.