Emergency management reform needs to be ‘more ambitious’ – ECan

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Proposed emergency management reform does not go far enough, says Environment Canterbury (ECan).

In a submission on the Government’s Emergency Management Bill, chairperson Peter Scott said the legislation doesn't adequately address funding, disaster prevention or climate change mitigation.

"Environment Canterbury would like to see a more ambitious approach to managing climate change exacerbated hazards and risks in guiding legislation, across the 4Rs (risk, readiness, response and recovery) of emergency management.

"We are now in a time of increasing frequency, severity and consequence of emergency events."

The bill was intended to replace the 20-year-old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.

When the legislation was introduced to Parliament in June this year, Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said the legislation was not intended to be "transformational" or propose major changes.

But Scott said the feedback during the targeted engagement last year had called for "transformational change".

"Recent weather events cause us to reiterate that point."

Environment Canterbury has been calling for central Government investment to future-proof Canterbury’s rivers against more frequent and severe climate events.

Scott said he was pleased the legislation saw rivers as "critical infrastructure", but it did not address funding.

"It is difficult to plan for a sustainable future and to provide the best resilience from funding from a confined rating base as at present."

He supported giving iwi a greater role in emergency management, and said there needed to be stronger support for communities likely to be disproportionately impacted by emergency events.

Key changes in the proposed legislation included: clarifying roles at national, regional, and local levels, requiring Civil Defence Emergency Management Group plans to identify disproportionately impacted communities and recognising the role of Māori.

Photo: ECan deputy chairperson Craig Pauling, left, and chairperson Peter Scott.

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