As Coasties, we're no strangers to the devastating impact of natural hazards.

To address these concerns, Auckland Council is strengthening the Auckland Unitary Plan, and they want your input.

Over the next few months, the council will engage with Aucklanders through a deliberative democracy process.

This collaborative approach aims to better understand how to mitigate the risks of flooding, erosion, and landslides.

"The deliberative democracy process allows us to gain valuable insights from Aucklanders on complex subjects," says Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee.

"We're capturing views at different stages, rather than just through submissions."

Phill Reid, Manager Aucklandwide Planning, explains that participants will explore updating the Unitary Plan to address natural hazard risks.

"We need to understand the level of risk Aucklanders find tolerable or intolerable. This will inform new rules or restrictions to strengthen our planning."

Key aspects of the plan change include:

• Assessing risks from natural hazards
• Identifying areas prone to flooding, erosion, and landslides
• Developing strategies to mitigate these risks

Aucklanders can express interest in participating in future deliberative democracy processes by contacting the council here.

As the council moves forward, Coasties will be interested to see how these changes might impact our community.