14 November, 2013

Expanded tsunami siren network for Mangawhai

Mangwhai’s tsunami warning network is to be expanded with three new sirens to be installed – and an existing one relocated – in the lead-up to the busy summer season.

Trevor Andrews, Civil Defence/Emergency Management Officer for the Kaipara District, says the new sirens will be installed at Kainui St, Lincoln St and near the Mangawhai Surf Club at the end of Wintle St.

The new sites had been selected by the Mangawhai Community Response Group and the $12,000 cost would be met by the Kaipara District Council via the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group

An existing siren would be moved from its current spot – opposite the Mangawhai Club and Mangawhai Golf Club – and relocated to Alamar Cres.

Mr Andrews says Civil Defence is writing to the roughly 200 properties potentially affected by siren’s removal outlining the reasons for the move, but none of those are actually in an area at threat from a tsunami.

“That siren was installed in 2011 as part of Mangawhai’s original network of seven sirens, but is not actually in a tsunami zone itself. When originally installed, it was put there as it was a high point and the thinking was the sound would travel to other, lower parts of Mangawhai which could be affected but in reality, that’s not what happened.”

All four sirens would tap into the network operated by local lines company Northpower and site visits had already been carried out.

They are designed to alert residents in lower lying areas at higher risk from tsunami in the 20cm to one-metre range or those at moderate risk of tsunami from one to five metres.

Mr Andrews says it was hoped the work would be completed before Christmas and would leave Mangawhai with a 10-siren strong tsunami warning network.

The east coast settlement was the only part of the Kaipara District to have such a network.

“Mangawhai has been identified as the part of Kaipara most at risk both because of its east coast location and high population compared to other parts of the district.”

Mr Andrews says rather than triggering evacuations, tsunami sirens are designed to alert people that they need to seek further information about potential tsunami risks from official sources.

He says Mangawhai forms part of a wider regional network of more than 130 tsunami sirens across all three districts in Northland.

“These are paid for by the relevant district council in the area and maintained as part of deal with their local lines company; either Northpower or Top Energy.”

However, Mr Andrews says Mangawhai residents who want a more personal warning system – or who fell outside the areas covered by the official siren network – could purchase their own domestic tsunami alert from Northpower by calling (09) 430 1830.

The alerts – which cost $200 + GST – are designed to plug into any power point and would automatically activate to alert residents when the tsunami system was set off by Civil Defence.

Mr Andrews says information about Civil Defence generally is available from www.nrc.govt.nz/civildefence or from the Civil Defence Facebook page www.facebook.com/civildefencenorthland

ends

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