Application for the construction of tsunami warnings sirens by NRC
Have your say on an application for Northland Regional Council for the construction of tsunami warnings sirens in four coastal locations within the Whangarei District. Submissions closed 20 May 2024.

This application is notified under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987. The Minister of Conservation has received an application for a lease concession.

Application details

Applicant: Northland Regional Council
Location of proposed activity: Mimiwhangata Scenic Reserve, Otamure Recreation Reserve, Uretiti Scenic Reserve and Waipu Government Purpose Wildlife Refuge Reserve.
Concession type: General Licence.
Summary of proposal: The applicants are proposing to for construction of tsunami warning sirens in four coastal locations within the Whangarei district:

  • Mimiwhangata
  • Waipu Cove
  • Otamure Bay
  • Uretiti Bay

The Northland CDEM Group have operated a Tsunami Alerting System throughout much of the coastline since 2010. The siren network is integral to our tsunami readiness and response plans and plays a key role in alerting communities in conjunction with other tools. The network has progressively grown over the past decade and due to its age, is ready for replacement by a state-of-the-art alerting system.   

This alerting network is a joint programme funded, owned, and operated by all four of Northlands councils and partly funded by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). In 2019 a project was initiated to replace Northlands aging and no longer standards compliant sirens. The new sirens are very different from the previous models and needed new locations due to their size and function.

Application documents:

How to make a submission

Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.

Submissions closed on 20 May 2024 at 5:00 pm.

1. Prepare your submission

Record what you think on the submission form.

Any person or organisation wishing to be heard in support of their submission must request (within that submission) an opportunity to appear before the Director-General. This request must be included in your submission.

2. Send us your submission

Send your submission by email or post. You'll get a confirmation email or letter when a submission has been received.

Email: permissionshamilton@doc.govt.nz
Subject line: Submission on Northland Regional Council 111379-OTH

Post:
Director-General
Department of Conservation
Private Bag 3072
Hamilton 3240

Attention: Sofia Reid, Permissions Advisor

Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.

What happens next

After submissions close: 

  1. DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
  2. A hearing will be held if there have been requests to be heard by the Director-General. If you have expressed an interest in presenting your submission at a hearing, you'll be contacted by DOC regarding this. 
  3. DOC will analyse and consider information raised at the hearing if a hearing occurred.
  4. DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation. 
  5. The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application. 

Hearing details

If a hearing is required, it is likely to occur on the week of 10 June 2024.

Decision

No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.

DOC comment regarding publicly notified applications

The Minister of Conservation has made no determination regarding the suitability of this proposed concession on public conservation land.  This public notification should not be interpreted as an intention on the part of the Minister of Conservation to grant the proposed concession.  

Contact

If you have a question about the application or the submission process you can contact Sofia Reid, Permissions Advisor.

Email: sreid@doc.govt.nz