Council broaches possibility of closing Cape Kidnappers beach walk permanently

The walk along Cape Kidnappers from Clifton Beach could be closed permanently, but not without a potentially fierce community debate.

The beach has been closed since a rockfall on January 23 seriously injured two Korean tourists.

Since then there have been two more significant rockfalls, one on February 2 and one on February 7.

Clifton Beach has been closed for over a month due to a large slip which injured two tourists. Photo / File

Hastings District Council will on March 5 hear an interim geologist's report that has found if the beach was reopened at this time, there would be a risk of more people being hurt.

Council officers are recommending the beach remains closed until a risk assessment can be undertaken.

The closure would be a temporary measure, but permanent closure is broached in the paper to council.

"Permanent restrict of access to the Clifton beach and Cape Kidnappers is likely to be of significance to the community," council officers say.

"Therefore any decision that involved ongoing restriction of access would require the opportunity for appropriate consultation before a decision is made."

While the agenda states that permanent closure is not an option being considered, that only refers to Tuesday's meeting and permanent closure could be considered in the future.

Manager of the Clifton Motorcamp Bob Pollock said the beach closure was not currently affecting the camp's business but felt it most likely would in the future.

He said a lot of people who came to the camp, came to go out to the Cape.

"It's a bit of an icon."

He did not think closing the beach permanently would stop people visiting it.

"Closing it's not going to work because people still go round."

The Cape Kidnappers beach walk is one of DOC's Great Day Walks.

DOC received an assessment in 2017 labelling the walk as an "unacceptable risk". The report was received a day before a multimillion dollar campaign was launched, promoting it as one of the great day walks.