Sustainable Outcomes Presentation with Tom Mansell

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Presentation outline:

The Making Space for Water programme was developed by Auckland Council in response to the extreme storms that impacted Auckland in early 2023. During this time, local and national states of emergency were declared and over 7,000 homes were evacuated. The rainfall overwhelmed the stormwater network, and many people were not prepared for such significant flooding. Responding to and recovering from these events is complex and extends further than fixing damage to infrastructure.  It was clear that the city could not afford to rebuild in the same way and that space must be made to accommodate water.  Solutions must work with water, rather than seek to contain it and nature-based solutions, such as restoring streams to their natural floodplains, are essential to manage the increasing volumes of rain Auckland is expected to face.  This session will cover the development of the Making Space for Water programme, its objectives, and the interventions required to reduce Auckland's flood risk, increase resilience, and ensure residents are prepared for future flood events.

Bio

Tom is the head of the Healthy Waters Sustainable Partnerships unit at Auckland Council, where he leads a new partnership approach to water-related initiatives, developing projects collaboratively with input from the community, iwi, local boards, and government agencies.  A key project under his leadership is Auckland Council’s flagship climate adaptation programme, ‘Making Space for Water,’ a 10-year flood resilience initiative developed in response to the severe storms that impacted Auckland in 2023.

With over 20 years of experience in delivering sustainable stormwater projects, Tom aims to transform Auckland's approach to stormwater management by prioritising nature-based solutions that enhance ecological health and community well-being. Committed to sustainable practices, Tom brings extensive technical expertise to his role, having successfully led numerous projects that integrate environmental stewardship with practical infrastructure development, ensuring that Auckland’s stormwater infrastructure not only meets current needs but is also prepared for future challenges.