What is a Peat Hazard Assessment?
Most section 36 applications will be assessed for the risk of a peat landslide incident. The assessment will be based on geotechnical and hydrological information provided by the developer and produced following a site visit arranged through the developer or land owner. The site visit will help the appointed assessor to prepare a written report for the Energy Consents Unit (ECU). The scope of each assessment report will be relative to the scale, complexity, and topography of each development site.
Each report will include a summary of the findings, complete with recommendations, and will be presented within 1 month of receipt of the submitted site information. The report will confirm whether or not adequate and appropriate field survey, peat sampling and analytical methods have been employed to provide a sound basis for assessing peat stability and the risk of peat landslides.
The assessor will make recommendations to consent officials, confirming whether the information submitted by the developer demonstrates the level of risk is acceptable or not. Further peat guidance and procedural advice is available on the Energy Consents website.