A new purpose-built tsunami high ground evacuation area was opened by Minister of Civil Defence Kris Faafoi in Papamoa over the weekend.
Located at Gordon Spratt Reserve, the artificial high ground is accessed via two new earthquake-strengthened footbridges, and can be rapidly reached by students from Papamoa Primary School. It is the first purpose-built high ground reserve in the Southern hemisphere, and is the first of four planned tsunami evacuation areas in Tauranga.
“This will allow people to gather safely above the highest predicted level of tsunami inundation,” Faafoi said. “I am pleased to hear that the need was identified by the community who are preparing themselves for an emergency, and that the council have seen the benefit, and progressed this high ground.”
The mound has a capacity for approximately 3,800 people and was built to withstand the shaking and liquefaction effects of an earthquake.
“The work Tauranga City Council have been doing over the past six years to keep the Tauranga community safe in the event of a tsunami has substantially reduced the risk to tens of thousands of people,” he noted. “Tauranga now has a network of tsunami evacuation routes and safe locations, along with clearly marked evacuation maps and signs.”
The Minister also urged people to do a trial run of the Gordon Spratt High ground and practise their tsunami evacuation route.
“Planning and practising tsunami evacuation routes means you can act quickly when you need to,” he added.
Should people at the coastal areas feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand up, or a weak rolling earthquake that lasts a minute or more; see a sudden rise or fall in sea level; or hear loud and unusual noises from the sea, they need to remember: “Long or Strong, Get Gone”. They should move immediately to the nearest high ground, or as far inland as they can.
