CHRIS GARDNER
Plans for a subdivision at Tangoio are being described as unwise due to regular flooding of the Te Ngaru catchment.
The Hastings District Council, which is processing an application for a private plan change from landowner John Hayes, has received a report from the regional council's engineering manager advising against subdivision.
Gary Clode said the river mouth had been blocked by gravel deposited by the sea 40 times in the last four years. The gravel had been cleared by the council using excavators.
"The recommendations are that settlement in the valley is not a wise thing," Mr Clode said.
Ian Macdonald, the district council's environmental manager, said Mr Hayes would have to decide whether to withdraw his application, proceed with it as it is, or modify it to address the flooding issues.
"We are still going through the submission process and the ball's in his court," Mr Macdonald said.
Both councils say the baches at the beach are currently in a coastal hazard zone and the district council holds a 30-year-old resource consent for their removal. They were due to be removed by April 30 this year, but the authority is waiting for the outcome of Mr Hayes application before their fate is decided.
"This report confirms that we need to be looking at the future of these baches a bit closer," Mr Macdonald said.
Mark Holder, who occupies one of the baches, said Mr Hayes was hoping to get consent from the council if he pulled the row of baches fronting the sea down, but dealing with the issues was on the district council's backburner.
If the baches had been on Maori land, as they were at Ocean Beach, Tangoio might have qualified for a series of intensive planning workshops as held at Ocean Beach as part of the charrette.
"If the council had the will to fund it, that would be wonderful," Mr Holder said.
"The council does not have to do anything, but it will probably come to a point where they say 'next month it's got to go'."
Mr Holder has just received a rent demand from Mr Hayes for the next six months.
Tangoio subdivision 'unwise'
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