Waikato Engineering Lifelines Group
Welcome to the Waikato Engineering Lifelines Group (WELG) website.
The Group's mission is to identify measures and coordinate efforts to reduce the vulnerability of the Waikato's lifelines to hazard events and to improve service reinstatement after an emergency, so that the community can recover as quickly as possible. 
On this page:
Lifelines are the essential 'utility' services which support the life of our community. These services include water, wastewater, stormwater, power, gas, telecommunications and transportation networks.
The Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act 2002 requires lifeline utilities to establish planning and operational relationships with CDEM groups. At the heart of this relationship is for each lifeline utility to be able to exchange relevant information around their risk management processes and the key elements of their readiness and response arrangements.
The CDEM Act 2002 also requires all engineering lifeline utility operators to ensure they are able to function to the fullest possible extent, even though this may be at a reduced level, during and after an emergency. This is best achieved through the formation of lifelines projects - voluntary groups of 'lifelines' organisations with representatives from territorial authorities, major utility and transportation sector organisations.
The Waikato Engineering Lifelines Group (WELG) is a voluntary group of engineering lifelines organisations. It has representatives from the Waikato region's territorial authorities and major energy, telecommunications, and transportation sector organisations.
The WELG aims to:
- encourage and support the work of all participants in identifying and mitigating the effects of hazards on lifeline assets and business operations
- facilitate communication between all participants in order to increase awareness and understanding of each organisations' interdependencies
- create and maintain awareness of the role and importance of lifelines within the Waikato region
- promote ongoing research and technology transfer aimed at protecting and preserving lifelines of the Waikato region
- develop best approaches to mitigation, preparedness and recovery measures for lifelines.
Funding is provided through an annual grant from members and the Waikato CDEM Group. Environment Waikato administrates assets and financial records on behalf of the WELG.
The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management provides guidance and support to the establishment and operation of regional engineering lifelines groups.
You can view or download the WELG Charter on our documents page.
Find out more about WELG's members and how you can contact them.
The WELG is overseen by a steering committee which meets about every 4 months. The steering committee oversees day to day running of the lifelines group by providing technical and administrative support. The steering committee also makes decisions on behalf of the WELG, including work programmes, budgets, awareness/education initiatives, and strategy development.
A project manager regularly reports to the steering committee. The project manager oversees the work programme, provides advice and recommendations, organises the annual seminar and AGM, writes the quarterly newsletters and ensures project objectives and timelines are met. The project manager also prepares agendas and minutes for steering committee meetings.
Visit our documents page to download relevant documents including terms of reference for the Steering Committee and Project Manager, Business Plan, agenda and minutes from the most recent meetings, and the latest quarterly newsletter.
Benefits of participation in the WELG include:
- access to best practice
- enhanced ability to identify interdependency issues
- better outputs
- reduced costs
- access to relevant activities
- assured compliance
- less effort
- ongoing forums (networking).
The WELG maintains a close link with other lifelines projects and groups around the country through the National Lifelines Co-ordination Group. The National Lifelines Co-ordination Group also undertakes projects that benefit all lifelines groups.
A National Lifelines Forum is held every year in November. This provides an opportunity for regional lifelines project managers and managers of major utility companies to come together, share ideas and learn best practice.
Annual seminar
The WELG holds an annual seminar for members and interested parties. Members are encouraged to report on progress made within their organisations on mitigation activities, asset management and disaster preparedness planning.
This year's seminar will be held on Friday, 6 June 2008.
Our documents page has copies of the programmes and PowerPoint presentations from previous annual seminars.
Projects
The Waikato Engineering Lifelines Project has identified a number of potential projects which could substantially contribute to reducing the vulnerability of the Waikato region's lifelines and improve disaster preparedness planning. The WELG intends to progress those projects that will collectively benefit the lifelines organisations in the Waikato region.
See the documents page for more information and to download completed project reports.