Sea level mapping tool reveals effects of climate change on Wellington region

Petone may become a water-logged memory due to the effects of climate-change driven sea level rise, a new mapping table shows. The tool, developed by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), reveals the dramatic effects climate change will have on the region. Particularly affected would be Pauatahanui, Plimmerton and parts of the Wairarapa. However, the projections for the central city, Miramar and Petone were the most drastic. READ MORE: * Determining how, when, where and who pays for climate change * Low-lying Waikato towns at risk from sea level rise * Holding back the rising tide, naturally * Dude, where's my beach? There on Sunday, gone by Monday * Government help needed on rising sea levels * The four major events that could spell doom for Wellington The tool allows people to check if their homes might be flooded. GWRC natural hazards analyst Iain Dawe said it was developed to raise public awareness of climate change issues. "Often when we think of climate change, it's something in the future, but it's already happening, it's happening now." Sea level rises could impact vital infrastructure, cause drainage issues, take out roads and result in damage and maintenance costs that would drive up rates. A similar project had been undertaken by Waikato District Council in 2016, and GWRC was able to use the same coding to develop the Wellington equivalent. The project took about 12 months to complete. Dawe said there was interest in creating a national tool, but it depended in part on "how quickly other councils want to pick it up". * The interactive sea level mapping tool is available here.