Editorial: Seawall cannot be at any cost

The camp itself has not lost any sites since last year, although about 40 sites inside the camp have been lost over a five-year period. Photo / Paul Taylor

The decision to allow a wall to be built to protect Clifton motorcamp against sea erosion seems to be a sensible one.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council has granted consent to Hastings District Council for a temporary seawall to be constructed at the motorcamp, run by the Clifton Reserve Society.

The resource consent is for five years and it allows time for the Hastings council to work with the society to decide future management options.

The long-term plan is to move out of Clifton and establish a new motorcamp nearby, a development which could cost up to $1 million.

The camp itself has not lost any sites since last year, although about 40 sites inside the camp have been lost over a five-year period. It therefore has the same capacity as last year.

This resource consent will allow time for an effective plan to be formed. It needs to be a plan that can get around the erosion problem out there and allow people to enjoy what is a spectacular part of our province.

However, consent may have been granted for the seawall, but two important questions need to be answered. How much will it cost and who will pay for it?

A proper investigation needs to be undertaken and these questions answered before work begins, else the process will become bogged down in red tape and costs will soar.

A seawall is a good solution to the problem now, but it cannot be at just any cost.