BLACKS BEACH SIDE BAR

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Wairoa District Council is unable to invest in getting in marine experts to better understand the Black’s Beach issues, but would advocate to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council that these considerations be investigated.

The council’s chief engineer Jamie Cox said while council looked at re-aligning the road over Black’s farmland, the most effective decision was to restore the existing road.

However, this process is time-consuming and poses plenty of challenges, he said.

Mr Cox said both councils agree that tourism is vital for the region.

“If this was a conversation about economic development and tourism there would be different factors to consider, and different people to involve so that we take a cohesive approach to finding a solution. We need to consider economic development imperatives but also ensure sound infrastructure is affordable and in place.

“The council would be interested to know which are the relevant agencies and organisations, and how can we work together to invest in understanding these issues. The council’s role in this particular issue is advocacy and trying to pull the right levers so that we have the right people around the table to discuss this.”

Mr Cox said the council supported the minimisation of any negative environmental impacts on Black’s Beach, and this process was considered in the resource consent for the work being undertaken.

WDC communications strategist Kitea Tipuna said the council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council had a role to play, but asked were they the only ones?

“Tourism Hawke’s Bay got a huge $300,000 funding boost from the HBRC in July — could they be asked to also contribute?”

General manager for Hawke’s Bay Tourism Annie Dundas said the funding was earmarked for promotion of the Hawke’s Bay, not land and infrastructure.

Ms Dundas said it was clear that they want to look after the beaches in the region.

“Of course we would like to make sure our beaches are cared for and that people have a good experience but that’s not how it works. It’s earmarked for promotion, not fixing stuff, sadly.”

Mr Tipuna said the surfing focus and tourism dollar of the issue gave it a stronger economic development focus, rather than an infrastructural or environmental one.