Outcome Three: Built
Hanga
Our built environment is low emission and resilient | He tukuwaro-iti ō mātou whare, he manawaroa hoki
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Key
2022-2025Year of deliveryAdaptationMitigationBiodiversity and sequestrationWe lead the way with low carbon infrastructure and buildings3.1
Minimise the embodied carbon (carbon emitted in the production of the materials such as concrete and steel) in the design and construction of QLDC buildings and infrastructure. Transition towards more sustainable materials and construction techniques. Particularly:
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024The completion of the Carbon Baseline Assessment (action 1.5a) has identified a range of opportunities for reducing the levels of embodied carbon in Council infrastructure.
Investigations are underway to assess how these opportunities can be realised. This includes options around adopting a qualitative climate impact assessment tool to help ensure that low impact design principles and nature based solutions are prioritised. Meetings with suppliers to discuss low emission product innovations are also ongoing.
2023-20253.1a
Investigate using reduced carbon cement for all QLDC property and infrastructure projects.
2023-20253.1b
Investigate whether regional demand could influence suppliers to provide lower carbon cement options, and work with the industry to enable these opportunities.
2023-20253.1c
Prioritise nature-based solutions in design and decision-making over solutions that do not enhance nature.
2023-20253.2
Review the Energy Chapter of the District Plan to remove barriers to small scale and community scale renewable energy solutions.
UPDATEUpdate
4 December 2024Council has produced a Solar Panel Factsheet on its Practice Notes and Guidance page to help people understand the rules of the District Plan for installing solar panels. Click here to access: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/qv4hicea/qldc_solar-panels-factsheet_a4_mar24-web.pdf
Research into potential barriers in the District Plan to small scale and community scale renewable electricity generation has been completed as part of a Massey University Master of Resource and Environmental Planning project, and a summary document is being prepared.
2023-20253.3
Support energy demand management technologies, tools and behaviour change to decrease energy usage at peak times.
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024Council has partnered with Transpower, Aurora, Powernet and other industry stakeholders to develop a forecast of future peak electricity demand scenarios for the district. The working group has developed a range of scenarios for different population and economic growth forecasts and decarbonisation pathways out to 2050. These scenarios provide insight into the potential scale and timing of power infrastructure investment as well as the critical role that flexible demand management (e.g. managed EV charging) will play in reducing peak levels of electricity demand.
Council also supported Are Ake ( New Zealand's Future Energy Centre) to run a Flexibility Challenge: Solutions Workshop for the district on 30th October. The workshop was focussed on identifying opportunities for demand response or load reduction/shifting initiatives that could help to reduce the peak loading on the districts electricity network. The workshop was attended by power industry professionals, technology specialist and representatives from organisations across the district who are large electricity consumers.
2022-20253.4
Increase the promotion and availability of sustainable building design expertise and education products to the community. This will include:
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024> QLDC has joined NZ Green Building Council and is providing support to the Superhome Movement to review and update their publicly available Superhome Design Guide and the new Super Reno Design Guide.
> The primary format of the new Design Guides will be online, for direct communication of the key information with maximum visual appeal, and with the technical details accessible via links.
> QLDC is awaiting updates on the MBIE Building for Climate Change programme.
2022-20253.4a
Partnering with the NZ Green Building Council and Superhome movement to enable improved access to design expertise, technologies, and best practice techniques, to minimise waste and emissions in the design of new homes.
2022-20253.4b
Developing guides which go beyond the building code and promote sustainable and resilient housing and buildings.
2022-20253.4c
Public education about the upcoming changes to the Building Code and the introduction of the new MBIE Building for Climate Change regulations.
2022-20253.5
Continuously measure and improve wastewater treatment emissions.
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024Data to calculate wastewater treatment emissions is being provided for the annual greenhouse gas inventories, which will be independently verified by Toitū (see Action 1.1b).
2022-2025Our infrastructure is resilient to the changing climate3.6
Assess the vulnerability of our roading and three waters network to climate change impacts and use this evidence base to guide our infrastructure resilience programme.
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024An assessment of the vulnerability of the Council roading network to known geotechnical hazards has been completed by WSP. This has involved the creation of a GIS model that can assist in future planned maintenance activity and potentially reduce large unplanned emergency response costs. Work is also underway with regards to stormwater catchment modelling which will help identify key areas of vulnerability in the stormwater network.
2022-20253.7
Implement the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) critical actions for infrastructure that are relevant to our district.
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024The objectives of the NAP Infrastructure chapter are: INF1 Reduce the vulnerability of assets exposed to climate change; INF2 Ensure all new infrastructure is fit for a changing climate; INF3 Use renewal programmes to improve adaptive capacity.
QLDC is committed to a focus on resilience planning throughout the capital investment lifecycle that prioritises the realisation of these objectives. This has been demonstrated through making Resilience and Adaptation a key strategic priority for the 2024-2034 Long term Plan and 30 Year Infrastcuture Startegy.
2022-20253.8
Develop an adaptation framework with regional partners that specifically addresses future climate hazards and vulnerabilities.
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024Work is continuing with the ORC Natural Hazard team to develop a consistent approach to prioritising, planning and implementing climate adaptation responses across Otago. This programme will enable a consistent assessment and prioritisation of adaptation responses across the Otago region. An ORC workshop was conducted on 9th May 2024 to update on progress of this programme. A video of this workshop can be viewed here: https://www.orc.govt.nz/news-and-events/events/2024/may/safety-and-resilience-committee-workshop-regional-natural-hazards-risk-assessment-programme
2023-2025Our water resources are resilient and managed responsibly3.9
Our water resources are resilient and managed responsibly
2022-20243.9a
Deliver an updated Water Demand Management Plan.
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024The Water Demand Management Plan has been finalised. To support more sustainable water use now and in the future we're working with Citycare Water to install smart water meters for properties throughout Hāwea that are connected to Council’s potable water supply. Smart water meters are already installed and operational in Luggate and Glenorchy. The water meters help Council track water demand trends over time, develop an accurate representation of water usage in an area and find and fix leaks. Interested households that have a smart meter installed can log in to an online dashboard to check how much water they're using. The dashboard also includes water saving tips for households that are keen to reduce their water usage.
COMPLETE3.9b
Invest in ways to encourage sustainable water use, such as smart water metering, to help conserve water, reduce water network emissions and reduce the pressure on wastewater and stormwater systems.
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024The Water Demand Management Plan has been finalised. To support more sustainable water use now and in the future we're working with Citycare Water to install smart water meters for properties throughout Hāwea that are connected to Council’s potable water supply. Smart water meters are already installed and operational in Luggate and Glenorchy. The water meters help Council track water demand trends over time, develop an accurate representation of water usage in an area and find and fix leaks. Interested households that have a smart meter installed can log in to an online dashboard to check how much water they're using. The dashboard also includes water saving tips for households that are keen to reduce their water usage.
2022-20253.10
Investigate options for incentivising the installation of residential rainwater collection tanks to help reduce the burden on stormwater networks and support water conservation.
UPDATEUpdate
28 November 2024A review of the learnings from other New Zealand Councils who have implemented initiatives to support the deployment of residential rain tanks has been started. Examples include Wellington City, who have offered subsidies or rebates to homeowners who install rainwater tanks, Auckland City which has waived resource consent fees for residents installing rainwater tanks in rural areas, Gore District which has a bylaw proposals that would require the installation of rainwater tanks for some new buildings. The learnings from these examples will be utilised for future recommendations on the options for this district.
2023-2025 -
More Outcomes
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1. Leadership
QLDC demonstrates ambitious climate leadership
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2. Transport
Our transport system is low-emission and better connected
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4. Communities
Our communities are low-emission and climate resilient
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5. Business
Low-emission businesses thrive
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6. Environment
A flourishing natural environment
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