Groynes feasible for Cape Coast erosion

A new report on coastal erosion at Haumoana says a series of groynes would have a good chance of gaining consent.
But estimated costs of the proposal have risen from $6.7m to $9.9m, and there's no agreement yet on who would pay for the scheme.
Keith Newman, spokesman for residents group Walking on Water (Wow), said he was relieved the report confirmed much of the work done by its own coastal engineer. "We're very pleased with that outcome, it gives us confidence that we're on the right track."
The next step was to work with Hastings District Council on options for paying for the project that did not lay the cost entirely on coast residents.
The report by consultant Dave Serjeant looked at the feasibility of Wow's proposal for a series of nine groynes on the Haumoana coast, and whether the plan was likely to be granted resource consent. It found the groyne field was the best form of protection for the coastline, and would have a "reasonably good chance of success" in the Environment Court.
But a peer review of costs pushed estimates up by $3.2m, largely as a result of a difference in estimates of how much gravel would be needed to fill the groynes.
However, benefits to the community could be up to $12.8m, including improved property values and avoiding the cost of moving public infrastructure such as roads, estimated at more than $2m.
More investigation was needed before a resource consent application could be submitted, including the implications for the rest of the coast, as the proposal focused on Haumoana.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said public consultation would also be needed.
"Given the complexity of the project and the region-wide implications there needs to be consultation undertaken with the whole of our community," he said.
"This may potentially be through the council's Long Term Plan or a special consultative process."
Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Regional Councils were jointly presented the report yesterday.
An earlier work commissioned by both councils had presented three options: an $18m groyne plan, a "managed retreat", where affected homes and businesses would move as needed at their own cost, or doing nothing.
In Wow's submission to the Hastings annual plan, the group said managed retreat would be costly and chaotic.
"The Cape Coast does not want to become the New Zealand test case for managed retreat, which can only leave social, economic and physical chaos in its wake."
The submission said coastal residents should not be expected to foot the bill for intervention, as the beaches were a regional asset, with the National Cycle Trail running along at-risk parts of the coastline.
A small district-wide levy was proposed to help fund the protection work.
Funds set aside for shifting public infrastructure could also be put towards the establishment of the groynes.