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Coast : Hawke's Bay Coastal Assessment Report
The Hawke’s Bay Regional and Hastings District councils commissioned Tonkin and Taylor Ltd to assess and quantify the extent of existing coastal hazards as well as their impact on the coastal environment, along the coastline of the Hawke's Bay region. For a number of years, Hastings District Council has recognised the hazard from coastal erosion in the Hastings District Plan, and accordingly for many properties along the coastline, there are already restrictions to activities with regard to those properties within existing hazard areas. Coastal hazards experienced along the coast include
coastal erosion, severe winds, storms and tsunami.
These processes can create a hazard to properties, infrastructure
and people within the coastal environment. Over the
next 100 years, this hazard is predicted to increase
through sea level rise and increased intensity of storms.
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Both councils are working together to identify and gather information on natural hazards (including earthquake, flood and volcanic ash, as well as coastal hazards) with the potential to affect the Hawke's Bay community.
What does the report mean?
The final report dated 11 February 2004, includes erosion hazard zones for the Hawke’s Bay region; the current erosion hazard zone, and erosion zones over the next 50 and 100 years. These are planning and information tools to assist decision makers such as Council and land owners in managing the use and developments within the coastal area relative to erosion and associated hazards.
It forms the basis upon which the councils develop their policies for the future management of the coastal environment. This includes options for the mitigation of the potential impacts from the coastal hazards.
The Regional Council have been project managing the progress of the recommendations made in the report. The process for the establishment of clear planning policy into both District and Regional plans may take a number of years.
Consultation
As part of the draft Regional Coastal Environment Plan, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has set policies and rules relating to activities in the coastal hazard zones.
You can make a submission on the draft Coastal Environment Plan via the Regional Council's website www.hbrc.govt.nz. Submissions close 31 March 2005.
If you live on the coast of the Hawke's Bay, you will get the opportunity to "have your say" on how the coastal hazard area should be managed through public meetings organised by the Regional Council.
Contact
For more information about the Coastal Hazard Assessment
Report and coastal hazards in the Hawke's Bay region, contact
Environmental Planner (Policy), Nia Belcher, on 
niab@hdc.govt.nz or
phone 06 878 0510 extension 8673.
