Key points
In 1994 and 1995, Environment Waikato surveyed all accessible areas of coastline in the Waikato region. The survey looked at shoreline protection structures (such as seawalls) put in place to reduce coastal erosion and protect properties near the shoreline. Environment Waikato needs to know where coastal protection structures are and what condition they are in, so that we can find out how these structures affect public space and our environment.
- There are 495 coastal protection structures in the Waikato region.
- Only two of these had resource consent under the Resource Management Act at the time of the survey. However, some may hold some form of consent under previous legislation.
- These structures are present along 2.2 percent of the total shoreline length of the Region.
- Once the Regional Coastal Plan (RCP) is operative, Environment Waikato will be required to assess all coastal protection structures in the Region to find out which of them need consent under the new RCP rules.
Source: Environment Waikato
What agencies are doing
- Environment Waikato monitors shoreline protection works in our Region to update this indicator and to assist policy making and consent decisions.
- Environment Waikato is working with communities where unauthorised shoreline protection structures exist. Structures that can’t be authorised under the operative Regional Coastal Plan in their current or modified form, will need to be removed. Structures first in line for action are those that are damaging the environment and affecting public use values.
- We are drafting guidelines to better deal with existing unauthorised shoreline protection structures, including shoreline protection structures.
- We manage and require the monitoring of resource consents for activities that affect the Coastal Marine Area.
- We work with district councils to identify hazard prone areas and prevent development from occurring in a way that increases risk in the future.
- We support 10 Beachcare groups around the Region. These groups work to protect natural dunes, which help to protect property from coastal erosion and prevent the need for shoreline protection structures.
What you can do to help
- Protect our dunes - well-developed dunes are valuable for protecting properties from coastal hazards. They can often prevent the need for shoreline protection structures.
- Use walkways where they are available to prevent the trampling of delicate grasses that help hold dunes together.
- Join your local Beachcare group and have an active role in encouraging a healthy, naturally functioning coastline.
- If you own a beachfront property and are thinking about building a structure to protect your property, contact Environment Waikato for advice. You may not need a structure at all, or there may be another solution that has less effect on the beach’s natural character and other values people hold about the beach.
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 protection structures is:
- Our coastal and waterway environments are restored and preserved and access to them is maintained.