Since June 2007 a team at Council have been focusing on protecting the District from Natural Hazards.  As part of this Council will change the Franklin District Plan to better manage or mitigate the effects of natural hazards, so that people and property are not put at risk.

The graph above shows the main natural and man-made hazards in Franklin District. We know about these because we collect and manage a hazards register. Through first knowing about natural and man-made hazards we can then manage them, and if the hazard is on your property you can also then take steps to reduce the risks. This is all possible through our in-house technical staff, who bring expertise and advice to Council on how to address the potential risks from natural hazards.

Council staff are currently:

• Reviewing the District Plan to more effectively manage activities that can increase the risks from natural hazards - a discussion document for this is out now:  Read the Discussion Document.  
• Working on ways to increase public awareness of the District’s natural hazards and steps that can be taken to reduce risks.
• Reviewing and updating processes to gather and provide information on natural hazards.
• Working regionally to share information and resources to manage hazards that exist on a regional scale (eg. Tsunami, earthquakes, volcanic eruption).

Even by reducing human influence on natural hazards it’s still impossible to prevent all natural disasters,as sometimes there might be little or no information on where and when disaster could strike. That’s why Council also works with other organisations in the Auckland region to coordinate civil defence activities. It’s important that if and when the worst happens we are able to respond quickly and efficiently, and get things back to normal as soon as possible.