Flood and quake prone West Coast's urgent need for Civil Defence controllers

There's increasing urgency to shore up personnel to replace retiring Civil Defence controllers on the flood prone West Coast and authorities are hoping local people will come forward.

The Grey and Buller District Mayors say their regions are vulnerable when another major weather event strikes, and completely exposed if the TranzAlpine Fault ruptures.

A recent report has found there are insufficient named and qualified civil defence controllers. To alleviate the situation, a group of six emergency controllers from outside the West Coast are to be appointed as Civil Defence Emergency controllers as a backstop.

To discuss the need for a long term concrete solution, Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson and Buller District Mayor Jamie Cleine.