Tauranga City Council environment committee talks climate change

Tauranga City Council held an open discussion at the environment committee workshop. Photo/File

Climate change has been a hot topic for the Tauranga City Council meeting this week, with the environment committee looking at ways to better understand the issue.

Climate change initiatives at a national, regional and local level were part of discussions at a workshop, giving members the chance to discuss initiatives being implemented or considered by the coalition Government, national groups as well as regional and city councils.

The meeting showed that councils nationwide were making action plans while other organisations were looking at progressing the understanding of climate change and how New Zealand will need to respond and adapt.

Committee chairman Steve Morris said the issue was how to fund measures to combat climate change and other natural risks.

Morris said the council had a significant budget to be able to fund resilience measures at the "back end" of its 10-year Long Term Plan budget.

The budget included $5 billion over 10 years, including $2b for "capital works".

Morris said there was a strong argument for council pumping sea and ground water levels in the event of flooding at the north end of Mount Maunganui.

Ensuring plans were in place in case the river flooded near the urban development area of Te Tumu in Papamoa East, which was bounded by the Pacific Ocean and Kaituna River, was also to be considered.

"The easiest way to protect people is to not put them in harm's way in the first place," Morris said.

The city's infrastructure was also considered, including ensuring the Chapel St and Turret Rd bridges were able to withstand an earthquake.

Morris said the council's Environment Strategy was about the council finding how best to care for the environment.

"Water quality is something that is really important to our community living by the sea.

"If we don't plan we are not going to do anything."

However, Morris said there was an "enormous amount of cost" to funding the resilience measures.

"The big conversation is how much do we do and how much are we prepared to pay?"

Morris said the "proof is in the pudding" in terms of what receives funding and what does not.

"You will know what our priorities are by what gets the funding."

Glass recycling was a priority and waste services which was discussed in a confidential council session.