Haumoana resident and long-term advocate for the coastal settlement Keith Newman said it was good to see the strategy getting some traction. Photo / Warren Buckland
Haumoana resident and long-term advocate for the coastal settlement Keith Newman said it was good to see the strategy getting some traction. Photo / Warren Buckland
Hawke's Bay Regional Council will lead the next stage of the region's precedent-setting response to its coastal hazards, previously hailed nationally as a potential framework for dealing with climate change-inflicted sea level rise.
It's a move in the right direction, but a long term coastal advocate wants more action, andnow.
The council has agreed, in principle, to lead work on the next phase of the 100-year Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazard Strategy 2120.
The strategy could see ratepayers charged extra to protect vulnerable land from sea level rise as the climate changes.
In 2019 a plan was put to Napier, Hastings and HBRC councils for 'contributory fund' for the strategy - it was suggested at the time that ratepayers pay $30 a year each to the fund.
A recent report, undertaken by Raynor Asher QC, found HBRC was the best placed local government entity to collect rates and lead the work of the strategy.
A joint committee, made up of mana whenua representation and elected members from the Regional, Napier City and Hastings District councils, has now recommended the regional council should lead the implementation of the strategy based on a funding review.
Committee chairman and regional councillor Jerf van Beek said it was a precedent-setting move and he was proud to be part of the project.
"The regional council has shown that it's time to act by making this decision, which is New Zealand-leading."
He said a decision about leadership was needed to keep the strategy moving but this had been a long process.
"Receiving clear guidance from the funding review and getting support from the regional council to follow that guidance is fantastic."
The Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazard Strategy is the region's response to coastal hazards, like heavy swells and erosion at Haumoana, and climate change. Photo / Warren Buckland
Haumoana resident and long-term advocate for the coastal settlement Keith Newman said it was good to see the strategy getting some traction, describing it as a "forward thinking approach" which could be "nation leading".
"Something had to happen because we were at an impasse."
However, he worried that without strong central government direction, they could spend a lot of time developing plans only to find it couldn't be done.
The dual role of the regional council as both leader and regulator of the strategy was also concerning, he said.
"The battle to get 120 metres of rock revetment wall [in Haumoana] has finally been won.
"Now everyone is wondering why this didn't happen before [...] and why it cost so much for consenting."
He said a more flexible approach was needed, and praised the work done, particularly by Hastings District Council, to strengthen relationships between council and impacted communities.
"I think we need to see more proactive involvement in coastal erosion protection from the regional council."
Regional council asset management group manager Chris Dolley said the decision for council to lead provided a "clear path forward" for the strategy.
With this decision made, there were still a few things to work through with the other councils and post settlement governance entities to make the transition of leadership, he said.
"We will be preparing a memorandum of transition that sets out the detail of how the councils will work together in practice and this will inform a transition plan.
"There's a significant amount of work still to be done on the wider strategy ahead of going to consultation including studying environmental impacts, public and private benefit, who pays and how it can most fairly be funded by ratepayers, as well as other finer details."
Hastings District Council had formally endorsed the funding review recommendation while Napier City Council was making its final decision early this month.
The strategy is currently tracking towards a wider public consultation process, in the form of a proposed Long Term Plan amendment, in the first half of 2022.
