Sea wall consent on hold

THE future of part of the Aotea community may hang in the balance as bureaucrats from two councils discuss its future.

The issue is the renewal of the resource consent for the Aotea seawall.

Waikato Regional Council staff say the Ōtorohanga District Council’s renewal application is on hold  awaiting further information from the ŌDC.

This includes how the seawall is proposed to be modified:

n The footprint of the structure, including any upgrades

n An assessment of the ecological effects of the proposal

n Details of any construction-related disturbance to the coastal marine area associated with the proposed repair and upgrade works.

The modification is a discretionary activity under the operative Waikato Regional Coastal Plan.

When it comes to hard protection structures (among other things), the regional council is required to give effect to the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, which discourages hard protection structures.

The policy directs that a long-term strategic approach be taken to coastal hazards, including the consideration of the hazard risk over a 100-year timeline, and promoting alternative defences.

The regional council is currently updating its regional coastal plan, which is open for three months of  public consultation, closing on November 14.

Its stated objectives are to avoid increasing natural hazard risk and support community adaptation and resilience. Proposed policies in the updated plan discourage hard protection structures for existing urban development –  unless a long-term adaptive management strategy approach is applied.

Council communications staff said an adaptive management plan was a long-term plan (at least 100 years) developed by a community and stakeholders – including residents, ratepayers, councils, iwi/hapu and relevant service/infrastructure providers – to address the unique risks identified for that community.

It might include hard protection structures for significant existing development or communities and could identify trigger points where conditions change to the point that current management options may no longer be viable and may need to consider planning for relocation (managed retreat) where risks become intolerable.

“Effectively, it’s taking a longer term look at the coastal hazard risk, so there is certainty in what future adaptations are considered and when responses may be needed. It does not mean the Aotea seawall will be removed.

But it will ensure that climate change and sea level rise will be taken into account in future.”

The Ōtorohanga District Council has been approached for comment.