It’s important to clarify that this scenario is not what is currently proposed under the draft Hawke’s Bay Coastal Hazards Strategy. Instead, the strategy looks at a range of practical and affordable options that could help manage erosion while we better understand how the coastline responds over time.
What is actually proposed under the draft Coastal Hazards Strategy?
The regional council has been working alongside a focus group formed with Westshore and Bay View community members to consider viable and affordable options to mitigate coastal erosion. A similar group has also been formed for Haumoana and Te Awanga.
The suggested long-term pathway for Westshore originally developed under the draft strategy includes making use of suitable dredge material – including sand, and silt - generated as a by-product of the Port of Napier’s dredging programme and depositing it offshore from the beach. And for the regional council to continue to place gravel on the beach to help offset what is lost to erosion.
In combination, these actions should help buy time before any expensive hard structures like groynes are needed.
What’s new is that the Port of Napier has indicated it intends to incrementally deepen its shipping channels over time, alongside a move to an annual dredging programme beginning next year. This work may generate additional suitable dredge material that could be used to help replenish the Westshore Beach offshore area. This comes at no additional cost to ratepayers.
From our work with the Westshore community, what is being considered now is to continue with gravel as needed in response to storm events and erosion, and to carefully monitor what happens to the additional dredging material being placed by the port. This will allow us to better understand how this material moves around and what effect it has on the beach at Westshore.
As the worst erosion happens in the southern part of Westshore, placing the dredged material as far south as possible is seen as beneficial. A resource consent process would be required to expand the existing deposition area, and this will also be looked at, which will include carefully considering potential impacts.
As a council, we are committed to continuing to work with the Westshore and Bay View communities and others along our coast as the strategy progresses.
Where the strategy is now
Right now, we are at an important stage in the process for the strategy that covers Tangoio to Clifton.
We have a good understanding of the risks our coastline faces and we have developed a framework and a range of options for responding to them over time. The question we are now exploring with communities is how Hawke’s Bay ratepayers want to pay for that work.
Responding well to coastal hazards is complex and comes with costs that must be met, but the costs and impacts of doing nothing are significant.
Across the coastline there are a number of possible approaches — from maintaining existing protection structures, to building new ones, to longer-term adaptation options. Some approaches may benefit specific communities directly with broader benefits to the wider community, while others protect regionally important infrastructure or public spaces.
That’s why the current stage of the strategy focuses on funding options and community preferences. These include a mix of possibilities such as a mix of targeted rates and contributions from general rates, and partnerships with territorial authorities like the Napier City Council and the Hastings District Council.
A long-term challenge for the whole region
Coastal erosion and sea level rise are not challenges that will be solved overnight. They require long-term thinking, careful planning and strong partnerships.
Once we have clarity about how we fund coastal adaptation across the region, we will be in a much stronger position to decide where investment should go.
To have your say on how you think coastal mitigations should be funded, take our quick survey which closes on Monday, March 16. Check it out here: https://www.hbcoast.co.nz/what-happens-next#survey
