Key points
Beaches have changing shorelines that naturally move from year to year. Some years the sand on a beach may build up, while other years it may be eroding away. In many areas on the Coromandel Peninsula coastal development has occurred very close to the sea, not allowing for natural shoreline movements. In these areas development can be threatened by coastal erosion.
- On the Coromandel Peninsula about 920 properties are estimated to be at risk from coastal erosion over the next 100 years, due to potential sea level rise. Of these, about 670 properties are currently at risk.
- The number of properties and dwellings at risk from erosion has increased since 1995.
- The total value of property likely to be affected to some extent by coastal erosion over the next 100 years on Coromandel Peninsula beaches is approximately $850 million.
Source: Environment Waikato
What agencies are doing
- Environment Waikato has developed ‘Coastal Development Setback Recommendations' for beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula. These setbacks identify areas currently at risk from coastal erosion and those at risk over the next 100 years.
- Environment Waikato works with the Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC) and other district councils to develop management strategies for difficult coastal sites.
- Check out Section 3.8 of our Regional Policy Statement and Chapter 8 of our Proposed Regional Coastal Plan for more information about Natural Hazards, including coastal erosion.
What you can do to help
- If you own a beachfront property and you are applying for a building permit, you will have to show that your dwelling will not be at risk from coastal hazards. Ideally if the section lies in or near a hazard zone, any new building should be placed as far landward on the section as possible.
- Find out about Beachcare groups in your area. Find out what they are doing to help reduce the effects of coastal erosion and how you can get involved.
More information
More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.
What we want to achieve
The community outcome we are seeking to achieve by monitoring coastal development is:
- Our coastal and waterway environments are restored and preserved and access to them is maintained.