HEAD OF THE LAKE - COMMUNITY UPDATE MAY 2022

May 6, 2022

Kia ora koutou
This edition is a short one as the Dart-Rees flood hazard and Glenorchy liquefaction hazard investigations are both nearing completion and will be finalised this month.
Read more for details of when and how we will share the information.

Sharing the findings
We plan to share findings of these new studies with you, the Head of the Lake community, in the week of the 30 May-3 June, and will confirm the date as soon as possible.
When and how? 
ORC and the consultants will show the work they carried out to investigate the flooding and liquefaction hazards, and present their findings in a series of online presentations. At this stage, we plan to do this online due to the uncertainty around in-person attendance. 
Presentations will also be recorded and uploaded to our project web page because we know not everyone will be able to attend live sessions, or may want to revisit them.
This won't be the last time we engage with you. Importantly, we will follow this session up with other opportunities for further discussion with us and consultant experts. We value your feedback as we work to decide what the next steps might be for assessment and management of these hazards.

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Shepherds Hut Creek Debris Flow 

Following the recent road closure at Shepherds Hut Creek on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, ORC Engineering have carried out inspection of the area.
Based on observations from this field visit, the event appears to have been a debris flow caused by heavy rainfall in the catchment. The debris flow has mobilised a large volume of sediment and debris down the stream, overwhelming the road culvert and spreading across the road.
Photos taken show the new debris flow deposits in the lower part of the catchment, and the bedrock creek channel scoured by debris. The largest boulders moved in this debris flow were estimated as being up to around 2 metres across!
ORC consultants will be undertaking a review of this debris flow event to investigate its geological characteristics, processes and causes. This can be used to assess the natural hazard risks posed by these types of debris flow events at this location and nearby streams along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road.
Once complete, we will share the findings from this study with you, and also with other organisations such as the Queenstown Lakes District Council roading team.

Release of information at public council meetings
These new reports will become publicly available and are scheduled to be presented to the ORC Data and Information Committee on 8th June. All ORC Committee or Council agendas including the reports are available online for any member of the public to see. The meetings are streamed live on the ORC YouTube page. Dunedin-based media including the Otago Daily Times, often attend these meetings, so the information, among other Regional Council information, will also be available for them to report on.

To coincide with the council reports being publicised, the new technical reports will be publicly available from the 8th June on the project web page.
Ahead of that time, we plan to work with the media with our own media engagement. Because this is your community, we will ensure you and your local media are also included in this release.
For further information on this aspect of the communications, please contact comms@orc.govt.nz

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