Development of a voluntary retreat package for 35 privately-owned properties in the Awatarariki Stream 'fanhead' area is progressing, with property valuations under way.
Reporting to the Whakatane District Council last week, strategic project manager Jeff Farrell said an acquisition strategy - to mitigate the high loss of life risk relating to properties impacted by a major debris flow from the stream in 2005 - was dependent on the completion of a number of workstreams.
"Reducing the risk to people in the fanhead zone is the key driver of the strategy, but its success will also depend on several pivotal factors," he said.
"Firstly, property owners must be able to choose whether or not they participate, and even more importantly, any voluntary retreat process will depend on securing funding from government agencies and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council."
Mr Farrell said the process must also be fair and legal and based on "tried and tested" acquisition principles.