The threat of isolation in Te Puna in the wake of a natural disaster has spurred a group of residents to take matters into their own hands.

The Te Puna Heartlands group have created a dedicated, ‘all bases covered' civil defence plan to guide the community through a whole range of potential disasters.

Te Puna faces isolation risks if access to the state highway was prevented should a disaster strike. Photo: File.

Created with and funded by Western Bay of Plenty District Council, the plan also aligns with other relevant projects such as the Kaimai Management Plan and the Tauranga Moana Cycleway project.

Heartlands' Chairman Richard Comyn says the 'Achilles' heel of Te Puna” was the potential for the community to be isolated in the event of an earthquake, tornado, landslip, tsunami, volcanic eruption, tropical cyclone or flood.

Not only does its coastal location make Te Puna vulnerable, it also risks isolation if access to the north was prevented by road closures on State Highway 2, and to the south if there was no bridge access over the Wairoa River.

Other risks identified include coolstore fires and agri-chemical spills associated with the kiwifruit industry.

Richard presented the plan to Western Bay Councillors earlier this month, who congratulated the group on the quality and detail of the plan.

Ironically, the day Richard presented the project, a national tsunami warning was issued in the wake of the Chilean earthquake.

Richard says the plan will not gather dust, but will be regularly updated and the community will be kept informed.

The area covered by the plan extends from Te Puna Stream in the north, Minden Ridge to the West, the coast to the East and the Wairoa River to the south.

Te Puna has around 700 homes and is split geographically by the main Auckland to Tauranga highway and by the East Coast railway.

Western Bay communities that also have response plans include Athenree, Katikati, Matakana Island, Omokoroa, Waihi Beach and Wright Road.

The Te Puna Community Response Plan can be viewed here.