Key points
Sandy beaches are very active systems, which are constantly changing. The position of the shoreline at sandy beaches naturally moves, driven by constantly changing environmental conditions. In the past, houses and roads have been built too close to the sea, and have since become threatened or damaged by coastal erosion and/or flooding. When humans act to protect these assets (such as with sea walls) there are often unwanted impacts on the beach. It is important to understand these beaches and the extent to which the shoreline moves so that future coastal development can be successfully managed to avoid these risks.
- During the last 25 years, there have been periods of both erosion and accretion (beach building) at Coromandel's east coast beaches.
- In the early 1990s most of the beaches monitored were building up. During the late 1990s many of the beaches eroded.
- Although the Coromandel east coast beach shorelines fluctuate considerably, there is no long-term trend for ongoing erosion or accretion.
Source: Environment Waikato
What agencies are doing
- Environment Waikato gathers beach profile data at Coromandel's east coast beaches at six monthly intervals, and after major storms.
- We have used beach profile and other shoreline change data to establish recommendations for development setback distances at Coromandel beaches.
What you can do to help
- Use dune access ways when you are at the beach to avoid trampling delicate dune vegetation.
- Join a local beachcare group and help to restore degraded dunes so that they can naturally rebuild and protect the land behind.
- Be aware that beaches are changeable places, and that any permanent structures near the sea need to be built far enough back to be safe.
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 shoreline change is:
- Our coastal and waterway environments are restored and preserved and access to them is maintained.