Council land banks to prepare for future natural disasters

In a "uniquely Hurunui" move, a North Canterbury council is land banking to prepare for future natural disasters and the threat of climate change.

The growing risk of sea level rise to its beach communities has led to the Hurunui District Council buying a $3.8m block of land south of Amberley.

Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said buying the land gave people options and allowed them to prepare for future events.

"This land purchase is about putting people first, providing security in mitigating against the effects of coastal hazards, while leading the way in proactive coastal relocation."

The Ashworths Rd property was on a terrace elevated over 20m above sea level and had the potential to be developed into residential housing in the future.

The council has worked with its beach communities to develop coastal adaptation plans, with one of the options being proactive relocation.

Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the initiative was "a uniquely Hurunui solution" and he was unaware of other councils proactively buying land for relocation.

It made good fiscal sense to take advantage of a block of land coming on to the market and "land banking at today’s prices," he said.

"Currently, when natural hazards trigger action, it is central and local government that pick up the costs and they are generally big numbers.

"After the earthquakes and after the storm in Hawke’s Bay, people were forced to relocate and you can see that it triggers a lot of trauma and financial uncertainty.

"But this gives people a pathway."

The Amberley Beach village in particular was under threat from sea level rise, he said.

The council recently worked with residents to construct a new coastal bund, a type of embankment to offer protection against the sea.

It was loan funded at the request of ratepayers in the village, who are paying it off via a targeted rate.

The $3.8m property purchase has been debt funded.

The council would look to recover costs through a mixed model approach, including the future development of the land, the sale of surplus land and leasing out the land to recover some costs.

Affected communities could secure sections by paying a targeted rate over the next 30 years or buying sections.

"This is designed to be self-funded, so it doesn’t become a burden on ratepayers," Dobbie said.

When residents joined the initiative, their plot of land would be attached to their existing property, so the two properties could not be sold separately.

When the time came, residents could transport their house to the new section or build onsite.

The council would also be able to relocate its infrastructure or assets, if required.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.