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Below are excerpts from BBB experts’ interviews.
Professor Regan Potangaroa, Professor of Resilient and Sustainable Built Environment (Maori Engagement) at Massey University, says:
“It is important to prioritise resilience in designing and constructing new infrastructure. This means considering the potential impacts of extreme weather events, such as flooding and landslides, and building infrastructure that can withstand these conditions. Additionally, regular maintenance and inspections can help identify and address issues before they become major problems.”
When it comes to deciding to relocate or implement managed retreat, Prof Potangaroa states that decisions should not just be based solely on cost benefit-analysis and short-term economic gains but should take a holistic approach by considering the long-term well-being of residents and the broader impacts on their health, needs, and safety.
Sandeeka Mannakkara, Lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland:
“It is high time that we as a country move away from reactive responses to natural hazard events and adopt a proactive approach to break away from the post-event “repair and rebuild” cycle. Proactive management of infrastructure requires a commitment to understanding updated risk levels as per climate change projection models, thoroughly reviewing the ability of our lifelines infrastructure to cope, and putting the necessary resources in place to upgrade vulnerable infrastructure and innovate.”
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