OPINION: Nelson’s opportunity to be New Zealand’s most climate resilient city – Stuff

Anthony Phelps/Stuff

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese shows Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern flood damaged areas of Nelson.

Rachel Reese is the mayor of Nelson.

OPINION: Even as the spring weather gradually calms, the August rainstorm that impacted our city remains fresh, as we move through our recovery.

Something last months serious weather event has shown, is that the best of us shines through when we work together as a community to help others. I am immensely proud of everyone around the city who came together to help their friends and strangers in need. I am also extremely proud of my Council team, who showed strength and empathy in the days and nights of the storm, and afterwards as they help those still needing support.

We are now focused on fixing what is urgent and relatively minor, and working with and helping people get back into their homes when it is safe to do so. With the help of insurance and EQC, as well as central government funding, we will start to repair our damaged drinking, waste and storm water systems. With the assistance of Waka Kotahi our roads will be repaired. Many of our walkways in parks and reserves also need significant work.

The storm showed that the citys infrastructure is only partly resilient to the changing climate, and here in lies the opportunity for the next Council - we are not yet the countrys most climate resilient city, but we could be if we focus on the longer-term solutions for our city.

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I sincerely hope that the new Council elected in October, will look to its responsibilities for our future generations and bring this lens to our post flood repair and our climate adaptation work. If we only put energy into simply fixing what we have to, we will miss the opportunity to be smart and to collaborate for a safer, more prosperous future for our city, one that is ready to embrace the higher tides and more intense rainfall events.

Our region has a rich history of success bedded in our connection with the sea. I believe we should take the lead in turning to the sea again for solutions, positioning ourselves nationally and internationally as a leader in ocean-based climate responses.

BRADEN FASTIER / STUFF

Wenham contracting clean up the mud around Founders Park in Atawhai after Nelson had its worst floods in years.

In 2018, I had an inspiring trip to Denmark to learn more about how we could collaborate on climate change action. In 2020, the Council signed an MoU between Wakat Incorporation, and four Danish organisations. Wakat Incorporation is planning a Nelson Climatorium, based on Denmarks international climate centre, Lemvigs Klimatorium, a place to bring together government, industry, academics and the public in an integrated climate change think-tank.

We should support having this climate change conversation sooner rather than later. Lets collaborate on the urban design and engineering solutions needed for a future of sea level rise, because investing in our strategic urban infrastructure needs to keep moving forward. The likes of the Climatorium, the Science and Technology Precinct, and the multi-purpose development with a library at its heart, shouldnt be taken off the drawing board due to climate fear. Rather, these are the developments that have true community purpose for a future-focused Council to actively work on and support.

Initial concept images of the proposed new Nelson Central Library and associated riverside precinct redevelopment.

Of course, how and where we invest needs careful consideration. For example, as part of our due diligence of the riverside site proposed for the multipurpose library development, in-depth geotechnical reports have been commissioned. As responsible stewards of our city, we want to make sure we were armed with all we needed to know about the riverside, to inform what we do on and around it what we build, how we connect with the river, and how we enhance our transport links that might be impacted by the river. New information, such as updated data on sea level rise, will also continue to be evaluated and inform Council decisions about the city centre.

Councils have an ongoing responsibility to provide quality city and social infrastructure public spaces that people care about, that reflect their identity, that connect people together and enable better outcomes for everyone. We need to be smart about the infrastructure we build for our people.

Christchurch has been smart about its investment in Tranga - one of the more significant projects to reconnect their city following the 2011 earthquake. This library development has given Christchurch immense benefits. It draws the community back to what is now a more vibrant central city, to be together. Residents and visitors are learning, teaching, accessing services, and being entertained. Social outcomes include less social isolation, more innovation, more fun, and greater learning. And economically, Tranga has encouraged significant private investment in the city.

Like so many cities and towns, Christchurch City Council put a stake in the ground with their investment in a modern, multipurpose library, and other key central city developments. This show of commitment has given its centre a purpose.

I hope our Council can do the same for our people and our city centre.

MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF

Homes are flooded by the Maitai River in Nelson. Video first published on August 18, 2022.

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OPINION: Nelson's opportunity to be New Zealand's most climate resilient city - Stuff