Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand

Coastal Dune Ecosystem Reference Database

Preparing for Sea Level Rise An Adaptive Managed Retreat Case Study Thesis

Author
Rick Pieter Kool
Year
2020
Publisher / Organisation
DTU, New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute
Month
March
Pages
182
Keywords
sea level rise, managed retreat
Summary
Low-lying coastal areas of New Zealand are increasingly exposed to sea-level flooding and sea level rise (SLR) has been indicated as one of the key factors affecting low-lying coastal communities in New Zealand. SLR causes increases in groundwater levels, in turn reducing the discharge capacity of gravity-based two water infrastructure. Other impacts from climate change like changes in precipitation patterns cause increased discharge to the drainage systems. This requires adaptation of two water infrastructure and raises the issue of how local government can maintain levels of service for the two waters as the impacts of climate change worsen over the coming decades(and beyond). The adaptation option being explored in this study is retreat of two waters infrastructure (waste water and storm water) and how it could be implemented in a managed way. This includes exploring the interface between water services and the community retreat.