The natural hazards of South Dunedin
- Author
- Goldsmith, M. and Hornblow, S.
- Year
- 2016
- Journal / Source
- Otago Regional Council Publication
- Pages
- 77 pp
- Summary
- This report describes the environmental and community setting of the South Dunedin plain. The physical characteristics of the plain include its low-lying topography, underlain by poorlyconsolidated sediment (mainly sand and silt), its proximity to the ocean and harbour, a shallow water table with strong connectivity between sea and groundwater, and an exposure to heavy rainfall events. The plain is vulnerable to natural processes which occur reasonably frequently (such as coastal storms), and also events which occur rarely but have significant consequences (such as major earthquakes on nearby faults). The South Dunedin plain is densely populated, with approximately 10,000 permanent residents, and contains infrastructure and other assets which are important at a local, district and regional level.