Planning safer communities: Land use planning for natural hazards
The aim of emergency management is safer, sustainable communities in the face of hazards. Emergency management therefore needs to be regarded as an integral part of community decision making. One method of achieving this involves application of emergency risk management. This manual considers application of the emergency risk management process to the land use planning process as it applies to natural hazards. It attempts to develop a nexus between community safety, natural hazards, risk reduction and land use planning. Natural hazards are a part of everyday life. The interaction between communities and natural hazards can be positive, resulting in sustainable outcomes, or it can be negative, resulting in increased risk to our communities and further natural disasters. Effective risk reduction goes far beyond attempts to modify natural hazards - it requires careful community planning, education and considered environmental and resource management strategies. Land use planning can play a key part in reducing current and future community risk. Responsible management of the environment and its resources, and flexible and responsive development can prevent or mitigate negative impacts. Land use planning requires the balancing of many, often competing, interests: private sector needs, public policy requirements, equity, long-term economic development, environmental conservation, amenity, and community safety and wellbeing.