Buller District Council moves forward with Business Continuity Plan

Buller District Council’s recently reviewed Business Continuity Plan (BCP) was presented to councillors at yesterday’s Risk and Audit Committee Meeting.

This key step will help ensure council has systems in place to allow continuation of the organisation’s functions and services in the event of a natural disaster, technical failure, or other unexpected disruption.

Council’s BCP was last reviewed in 2020 and in its most recent state, was not suitable for its intended purpose.

Over the past four months, council staff have been working with contractor Phil Rossiter to develop a new set of fit-for purpose documents, including a Business Continuity Management Policy, Crisis Management Plan, and Business Continuity Plan, the latter of which covers recovery to business as usual.

Group Manager Regulatory Services Simon Bastion says: “The Business Continuity Plan outlines council’s overall response to any significant event that could disrupt normal operations and contains the critical information needed to ensure the organisation can continue to function during unforeseen events. Having an up-to-date BCP will help minimise downtime and restore services to our community as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The program of review has been held in conjunction with staff workshops, with staff input providing valuable insights and ensuring that a strong platform is established for staff to work from in the event of any business interruption.

Now that the Risk and Audit committee have approved the new documents, it is intended that the plans will be reviewed annually to ensure they are maintained and updated based on current business needs.

“An effective BCP ensures resilience against disruptions, safeguarding not just critical processes but also public confidence in council operations. By addressing gaps proactively, the council can mitigate risks to its operational continuity and reputation” concludes Mr Bastion.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz

Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.