'Battle' over Koitiata residents' ability to drain coastal lagoon

The Koitiata Residents' Committee wants to partially drain a lagoon. Photo / File

Koitiata residents want to partially drain the lagoon near their coastal village to relieve waterlogging - but will have to get consent from Horizons Regional Council.

Water tables have always been high in the village at Turakina Beach, but Koitiata Residents' Committee chairman Keith Gray said they had got worse in recent years.

Water overflow from surrounding areas seeps into Koitiata Domain Recreation reserve and its adjoining lagoon.

At times of high rainfall the casual camping area at the campground is too wet to use, Gray said.

Residents and Rangitīkei mayor Andy Watson have been waiting for Horizons Regional Council's response to their request to drain water from the lagoon as needed.

"It has been a battle," Watson said.

Council staff have visited Koitiata on more than one occasion, Horizons' strategy and regulation manager Nic Peet said.

He did not agree with Gray's view of the situation, and said the lagoon was habitat for rare and threatened species.

Whanganui ecologist Peter Frost said the lagoon level fluctuates a lot and it is home at times to 56 bird species, including the endangered black fronted and banded dotterel and black billed gulls.

Residents had done unconsented work to drain the lagoon before, Peet said. This time they will have to go through the normal process to apply for consent.

On February 4 Watson, Rangitīkei District Council chief executive Peter Beggs and assets manager Arno Benadie met with a senior Horizons staff member.

They talked about how consent can be applied for, how extensive the consent process will be and how it will be funded.

It is likely the Department of Conservation and local iwi Ngā Wairiki-Ngāti Apa will have to be consulted, and Horizons may have to investigate.

Watson is happy that progress is being made, because he said council infrastructure was at risk.

"The last thing you want is a sealed road with water under it. That damages a road like nothing else."

A meeting with residents is planned, at which Horizons will explain its position. Consent will be pursued after that.