The Duntroon and District Development Association will have GNS Science geologist and geomorphologist David Barrell at the meeting to give a professional view on the dangers of an earthquake in the Waitaki Valley, followed by a discussion on what the community should be doing to plan for one.
Association chairman Mike Gray said, although there had been no major earthquakes in the Waitaki area since European settlement, Mr Barrell would give a tour of the geology and landforms in the Waitaki area, showing how that can be used to pinpoint locations of faults which could lead to earthquakes.
A member of the scientific team investigating the Canterbury earthquakes, Mr Barrell was involved in examining prehistoric earthquake fault-lines in the Waitaki area 15 years ago.
These included the Ostler fault near Twizel, Fern Gully and Waitangi faults at Lake Aviemore, the Kirkliston fault in the Hakataramea Valley and the Stonewall fault at Station Peak.
Mr Barrell will outline day-to-day and long-term practical steps people can take to minimise their exposure to danger should a major earthquake hit the Waitaki area.
