The findings of a peer-reviewed risk analysis for the bulk liquid storage tanks at Naval Point in Lyttelton have been released to the community and will inform ongoing work in the area.
The risk analysis quantifies risk in terms of “annual individual fatality”, similar to risk measurements for natural hazards in the Port Hills following the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. In terms of annual individual fatality, the analysis shows that nearby residents are at considerably less risk from the storage facilities than many Port Hills residents are from hazards like rockfall and landslide. When compared to other risks, such as the chance of being involved in a fatal car accident in New Zealand in any given year, the risk posed by the tank farm to nearby residents remains considerably less.
The bulk liquid storage tanks at Naval Point store petroleum products which supply outlets and commercial interests throughout Canterbury and the South Island. The need for a risk analysis in the area was identified last year through the Lyttelton Port Recovery Plan process. A range of parties have been involved in the process, including Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury and Lyttelton Port Company, along with the oil companies and other lessees of the storage facilities.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions [PDF, 952 KB]
Full quantitative risk analysis [PDF, 5.9 MB]
Peer review [PDF, 334 KB]
Response to the peer review [PDF, 839 KB]