South Dunedin Future

What is at stake for South Dunedin?

We need to adapt South Dunedin’s infrastructure and environment in a way that protects space for people and the things that matter, while also creating more room for increasing levels of rain, sea and groundwater.

We are making a plan and figuring out what we can do with the South Dunedin community, mana whenua and stakeholders to work out what’s most important and to find the right balance between people, water and space.

The South Dunedin Future programme has five phases. We are now at the second to last stage of “what can we do?” and have a set of three proposed futures to explore with the mana whenua, stakeholders, and the community.

Future 3 – Protect (Keep the land dry – raise land and pump water)

Seeks to keep the land dry through a focus on engineered systems — pipes and pumps — with some land raising, green space and coastal protection.

• Future 3 Protect Short term network visualisation map
• Future 3 Protect Medium term (2060) visualisation map
• Future 3 Protect Long term (2100) visualisation map

Future 4 – Restore (Make space for water – waterways and wetlands)

Seeks to make space for water, by reintroducing open waterways, wetlands, and other green spaces to complement the pipes and pumps.

• Future 4 Restore Short term network visualisation map
• Future 4 Restore Medium term (2060) visualisation map
• Future 4 Restore  Long term (2100) visualisation map

Future 5 – Reshape (Move out of harm’s way – raised land and green spaces)

Seeks to move people out of harm’s way using land raising and infrastructure alongside new green spaces and waterways. Coastal protection is moved inland.

• Future 5 Reshape Short term network visualisation map
• Future 5 Reshape  Medium term (2060) visualisation map
• Future 5 Reshape  Long term (2100) visualisation map

You can find out more detail about each of the three proposed adaptation futures, and further information, through the following reports:

• Proposed adaptation futures - Overview report
• Proposed adaptation futures - Future 3 Protect
• Proposed adaptation futures - Future 4 Restore
• Proposed adaptation futures - Future 5 Reshape
• Proposed adaptation futures - Summary and next steps
• Stormwater modelling report
• Stormwater modelling report - Appendices A-L (Maps)
• Stormwater modelling report - Appendices M-R (Maps)
• Stormwater modelling report - Appendices S (Schema Statement)
• Stormwater modelling report - Scoping Memo
• Groundwater modelling report
• Economic report
• Health and equity research
• Ocean Beach Domain - Preliminary site assessment

What happens next?

Each of the three shortlisted futures have been assessed to determine the short, medium, and long-term effectiveness – essentially working out the best mix of infrastructure, greenspace, and where we might need to move people out of harm’s way.

Subject to Council approval, we will be running workshops, public drop-ins, and surveys on the three proposed adaption futures. Our technical teams will then analyse the community’s feedback and do more work on the costs and feasibility.

We’ll use community feedback and technical expertise to identify a single, preferred future for South Dunedin.

When we have gathered all feedback on the three shortlisted futures, we’ll use this information to help us narrow down to a single, preferred future for South Dunedin.

What happened to the other futures?

Futures 1 (status quo) and 2 (pumps and pipes) were assessed as being useful approaches in the short-term, where it makes sense to upgrade infrastructure to better manage current flood risk. This becomes less effective and more expensive over time so is not the best long-term approach. Upgrading infrastructure in the short term has been included in the design of each of the three shortlisted futures.

Futures 6 (relocation to raised land) and 7 (large scale retreat) involve lots of change and long lead in times. At this stage, these futures are being considered as potential options for the very long term, beyond the year 2100. But there are other things we can do to reduce flood risk in the shorter term.

South Dunedin Future – story map

With help from the Natural Hazards team at the Otago Regional Council, we have developed an interactive story map, mapping South Dunedin’s risks.

Mapping South Dunedin’s Risks

Click through the story map to learn more about the challenges South Dunedin faces from climate change, the key risks, social challenges and detailed maps outlining natural hazards and risk assessment layers.

What can you do?

We need you to get involved, tell us what you think about each of the futures, and let us know what matters most to you in South Dunedin.

There will be a wide range of opportunities to join in as we narrow options and finalise the plan.

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