Coastal development to go ahead

Lawrence Yule

A proposed district plan change that could allow more than 500 homes to be built on pristine costal land in Hawke's Bay will continue regardless of a newly-announced Government review of coastal development rules.

Ocean Beach has been at the centre of ongoing public debate over development rights for the past decade, and Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said in a large and heated public meeting today that the issue was too important to shelve until after Conservation Minister Chris Carter's review was complete.

"The minister is unclear as to what powers his review will have. This has taken a long time to get to here and we want to try and resolve it. At this stage we're not planning to stop this important work," Mr Yule said.

Mr Carter announced the review last week after vetoing a $10 million marina in Whangamata, saying local government needed better guidance.

Hawke's Bay people been fiercely opposed to any development along the 9km stretch of golden beach, which boasts one of the country's most significant sand dunes and important Maori archaeological sites.

Under existing rules, landowners could shut out the public, carving up the coastal property into around 40 sections, which could then be further subdivided.

Developers and the council are considering changing the rural zoning for the area to allow more condensed, controlled housing at the southern end - considered less environmentally significant.

Mr Yule said it was his personal view that if the council did not "sort out" the issues, there would be uncoordinated and undesirable development in the future.

"Importantly, what we want is to have a long-term, comprehensive solution. If you lobby the council to do nothing, there is a real possibility that developers may challenge that under the Resource Management Act."

But by co-funding a hearing designed to hear public views to the tune of $200,000, the council has been accused of being in the pocket of developers.

Kim Hape, whose whanau have provided public access to the beach across their land for 75 years, said the council was "selling our kids' future down the river".

"Why has the council opened the doors to rich developers that we couldn't get through? It would appear the rules are to be made up as we go along but we are no longer in the days of guns and muskets," said Mr Hape.

The council said it was considering all options for the future of Ocean Beach, including no development, but this would require the council or central government to buy the prime land from developers.

A proposed plan change would be publicly notified in November and Mr Yule said any decision would almost certainly end up in the Environment Court.

- NZPA