Options being considered for working with erosion at Sunset Beach, Port Waikato

Sunset Beach carpark is being eroded by sea level rise and natural beach processes and Council and the community are looking at options for the long term relocation of community assets.

A Council-led focus group has been working with the wider community in Port Waikato to identify solutions and GHD consultants have been engaged to help work through potential options.

Council’s Service Delivery Manager, Tim Harty said long term erosion of public land at Sunset Beach is significant and options needed to be considered to relocate public assets if they are being impacted.

“Working alongside the community, we have agreed that managed retreat is the best long term solution for dealing with the erosion issue,” he said. Managed retreat is when assets are moved back from the coastline to safeguard them from erosion.

Based on feedback from the community, options include providing parking for beach access and considering potential re-location sites for the community hall, should that become necessary in the future.

“With sea levels rising and erosion occurring at the access-way to Sunset Beach, it is important we plan for solutions to this and we want the community to have input into the process,” Mr Harty said.

An open day will be held at the Port Waikato Community Hall on Saturday 16 January 2016 from 9am till 12pm. Various options will be displayed at the open day and staff from Waikato District Council and project partners, Waikato Regional Council and the Department of Conservation, will be available to talk to. For more information, go to www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/sayit to view details and give feedback.

Please provide your feedback before Wednesday, 10 February 2016.

For more information

Ginny Semmens
Communications Advisor
Waikato District Council
07 824 8633 Extn: 5778
ginny.semmens@waidc.govt.nz