Fault line mapping
2020 fault mapping for Taupō District
As your local authority, Taupō District Council has responsibilities under the Resource Management Act 1991 to identify and provide information on natural hazards – including fault lines. These are areas where the ground has the potential to rupture due to earthquakes. This represents a potential hazard to building and development, in addition to general earthquake shaking which is a risk everywhere.
Council recently contracted GNS Science – Te Pu Ao, as technical experts in this area, to update the district’s fault line maps. The new mapping more accurately locates previously identified fault lines and also identified some new fault lines, using updated mapping techniques.
The new mapping identifies:
- Fault Avoidance Zones: These are 20 metre buffer zones either side of the identified or suspected active fault. GNS Science recommends that these areas are avoided for new buildings and development in future, or the actual risk posed by the fault line be determined by further site investigation, to reduce the risk from a low-likelihood but potentially damaging earthquake event.
- Fault Awareness Areas: These are areas that highlight that an active fault is known, or suspected, to be present, but existing mapping is not accurate enough to be sure of its exact location. GNS Science recommends that more work be undertaken before any future new significant building and development in these areas (such as schools, power stations, or new multi-lot housing developments) to identify the location of the actual fault to reduce the risk from a low-likelihood but potentially significant earthquake event.
GNS report: active faults in the Taupō District (PDF, 18MB)
This information will eventually be included in the District Plan, including rules for future building and development in these hazard areas. Any existing buildings and development will be allowed to remain. We will be considering and developing rules, including public consultation as part of our District Plan Review. The review will consider the recommendations from GNS Science and the national guidance from the Ministry for the Environment.
Drop in sessions
We will be holding drop-in sessions in areas affected by the new fault line mapping, where people can come and talk to us one-on-one about any concerns they may and ask questions.
Staff will be available at these sessions to talk to people one-on-one or in small groups. So please drop in if you want to discuss the new fault line mapping.
If these session times don’t suit, please contact us and we’ll arrange a time to get in touch that suits you.
Location | Time | Date |
---|---|---|
Kinloch Hall | 5.30pm to 6.30pm | Tuesday 20 October 2020 |
Acacia Bay Community Hall | 5.30pm to 6.30pm | Thursday 22 October 2020 |
Omori-Kuratau Community Centre | 2.00pm to 3.00pm | Saturday 24 October 2020 |
Contact us
If you have any questions about fault line mapping see our FAQ section below or get in touch with our District Plan Review team by emailing districtplan@taupo.govt.nz or by calling 07 376 0899.