Larry Dallimore: Barrier call places many at risk

Larry Dallimore

The consequences for failing to restore coastal protection along Hardinge Rd, most of Westshore and the north end of Bay View will be expensive for all Napier ratepayers and a major shock for some.

Homes valued at $260 million and Council assets exceeding $100 million are at risk because, I believe, the Council has ignored the real problem and overlooked durable solutions.

The Council will notify owners of property identified in the new Coastal Erosion Zone (made public via the Regional Council website on November 23). The zone now includes 510 private homes, beach reserves, city assets and major infrastructure. The preventable damage to the environment and avoidable loss of land and assets validates long-held concerns for Council's erosion solutions.

The full Council voted to continue beach nourishment as the long-term solution, also known as "managed retreat". The new Erosion Zone is a direct result of that decision. Each year this totally inadequate option to build a higher wider shingle seawall simply slows the erosion process. This is unacceptable when there is an opportunity to save a recreational beach by dredging sand to return natural replenishment and simple hard engineering at the southern end.

Council's failure to repair extensive damage to the beach barrier has compromised protection for the backshore. The strength and integrity of the barrier ridge is a critical defence against a severe swell event. More importantly, grossly inadequate nourishment is responsible for serious erosion of the nearshore seabed. The huge inshore sediment deficit will continue to reduce the effectiveness of the beach nourishment option.

The cause, the problem and the cost to repair do not belong to Napier ratepayers. At some point, the Mayor and Councillors should address isolated erosion on northern beaches caused by regular deepening of the Port shipping channel since the 1980s. Beach erosion during the last 30 years is not just a coincidence and has absolutely nothing to do with sea-level rise predicted for the next 50 to 100 years.

In the next few days, 115 homeowners in Hardinge Rd, 341 in Westshore and 54 in Bayview will get notice that their property is within the new Coastal Erosion Zone and LIM reports will be tagged to warn potential buyers.

According to the report "Preparing for rising seas" by the Commissioner for the Environment, these 510 properties in the new Erosion Zone are high and dry above MHWS and unaffected by sea level rise for the next 100 years. The only risk to these homes on an elevated spit is uncontrolled erosion due to damaged coastal protection. The Napier Council is responsible, not climate change.

Dr Jan Wright recommended a robust consultation process with the community (page 78). The Joint Committee overlooked her recommendation. "What is needed is a much slower process that actively engages with affected communities before decisions are made. Sometimes difficult decisions will need to be made that will disadvantage some, but they must be made carefully and with empathy."

The science for sea level rise is undeniable but experts cannot settle on the height and timing so a range between 0.6m and 1.5m over 100 years has been adopted. Local councils opted for 1.0m by year 2120 for the new Coastal Hazard Erosion Zone. The zones include probability ratings of 66 per cent as "certain", 33 per cent as "possible but unlikely" and 5 per cent and 1 per cent as "highly unlikely". Council provided an opportunity for feedback on the Coastal Erosion Zones but refused discussion with the Technical Advisers. My written submission pointed out the 1 per cent and 5 per cent probability ratings appeared unnecessary at this early stage. The Committee turned down a request to only include 33 per cent and 66 per cent probability erosion risk for tagging LIM reports.

The Committee reasoned it was a legal requirement of the RMA to include all data. Tagging LIM reports for so many properties with "highly unlikely" probability for an event by year 2120 is unnecessarily hasty and inconsistent with the Commissioner's recommendation for "Engaging with Communities".

-Larry Dallimore is a long-time Westshore resident and environmental campaigner.

-Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion, and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz