Local Government NZ has released a report that shows the massive risk to infrastructure from climate change.
"At only half a metre [sea level rise] there is estimated to be $2.7 billion worth of council-owned infrastructure at risk - and that doesn't count the private buildings, the government buildings, whatever that's on top of that that's being served by that infrastructure.
"It goes right up to at three metres of sea level rise, it's estimated about $14bn of council-owned infrastructure at risk."
This is great leadership from Local Government NZ - the risk to infrastructure from Climate Change is very real and we must be planning for it now.
For Auckland with 1m seawater rise, they estimate:
$1.4B for water (drinking, storm and wastewater)
$78.75 for roading
$373m for 390 public buildings (community facilities, council housing, council offices, playgrounds and significant other buildings/facilities).
Auckland has begun planning for this but we need to move faster. These costs are substantial and local government cannot shoulder this cost alone and requires a coordinated response.