Examples of Major Lifelines Reports

Many regions, districts and cities have completed comprehensive lifelines projects and studies.

Key observations and outcomes

Key observations from Lifelines Projects, overseas study tours and New Zealand experience include:

Many Utility assets are highly vulnerable to natural hazards, particularly those located where ground deformation could occur or in floodplains.
All Utilities are critically dependent on other Utilities. Electricity is needed for pumps and telecommunications (to mention two examples), telecommunications is needed for control equipment and emergency response, and road access is needed for reconnaissance and access to sites where repairs are needed. Restoring services to other Utilities (and to their contractors and consultants) is therefore vital for the broader community recovery.
There is also a growing awareness of vulnerabilities within individual Utility organisations. For example, outsourcing key functions can add to service continuity challenges especially in emergencies.

A considerable range of mitigation improvements have been undertaken by individual Lifeline Utilities in the past two decades. Lifeline Group activities have often sharpened the focus and leant a greater sense of urgency to this valuable work, much of which is not expensive. Individual and collective Lifeline mitigation work proved most valuable in facilitating resumption of Christchurch infrastructure services following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

Lifeline Group Projects and Activities November 2012 Update (.doc 516k)

Lifeline Projects and Reports

Many regions, districts and cities have completed comprehensive lifelines projects and studies. Some are available below, others may be available on website, or on request of the applicable lifelines groups.