$1 billion worth of Coromandel seaside property at risk

1.00pm

Nearly 1000 Coromandel Peninsula coastal properties worth close to $1 billion could be affected by coastal erosion in future, new research says, and an expert says further coastal development should be set back at least 100m from the sea.

Research by the regional council, Environment Waikato, has shown 921 properties, with a market value of nearly $1 billion, are likely to be affected by coastal erosion in the next 100 years.

Environment Waikato and Thames-Coromandel District Council are working together on coastal erosion and natural hazards projects.

Environment Waikato manager for coasts, land and wetlands science Peter Singleton said about 50 properties were already in the high-risk category.

Hotspots include Cooks Beach and Buffalo Beach on the east coast, and Koputauaki Bay and the Thames highway on the west coast of the peninsula.

Coastal erosion was expected to get worse on Waikato's coasts, Mr Singleton said.

The sea level was predicted to rise about 0.5m because of global warming in the next 100 years, cutting about 20m into the land.

More storms caused by global warming would exacerbate the hazard.

Mr Singleton said people's lives and properties would be at risk if coastal developments were not designed to take predicted coastal erosion hazards and flooding into account.

The Thames-Coromandel area was particularly at risk because of the surge in population growth in coastal settlements and an increasing demand for coastal property, he said.

Any new developments along sandy beaches would have to be set back a minimum of 100m from the sea to create buffer zones.

Environment Waikato is also working with Waitomo District Council to develop plans and policies dealing with coastal erosion on Mokau Spit, where 12 sections have been claimed by the sea in the past 10 years.

This year, the sea ate into three sections -- in one case leaving a septic tank exposed, while land at the mouth of Raglan Harbour has eroded 30m in the past 40 years.

Last year its old surf lifesaving building was removed from the encroaching sea and one resident was forced to move from her home.

The surf lifesaving tower at Port Waikato will also be removed because of coastal erosion.

Mr Singleton said the best way to manage coastal erosion was not to have housing and development in areas where they would be at risk.

- NZPA