East Beach erosion needs more solutions

Despite this term’s Waitara Community Board finishing up, board members are still looking at the long-term for their town.

Friday was the last Waitara Community Board meeting of this three-year term.

The issue of major coastal erosion at Waitara’s East Beach was back on the table, with an updated report on what the New Plymouth District Council was doing to combat the rising tide.

The Rohotu Block Trust manages about eight hectares of Maori freehold land at East Beach under the Maori Land Act and there are about 30 homes on the site. Six of the buildings have been identified as being in a High Risk Erosion Zone.

Instead of accepting the recommendations that the report be noted and council would continue to work with the trustees, the board unanimously voted to ask NPDC, in conjunction with Taranaki Regional Council, to engage with an independent engineer in order to look at all long term options for the future of the area.

North Ward councillor Craig McFarlane said if there was a possibility to relocate the six atrisk buildings further back on the block, it should be considered whether they would then have to connect to the urban sewerage system rather than staying with septic tanks.

Board member and 2016 mayoral candidate Bill Simpson queried whether health and safety of the residents was being taken into account when the council was defining whether the block was a ‘‘significant public asset’’ or not.

Council’s policy development lead Mitchell Dyer said there was a management plan in place to make sure residents’ safety was well looked after in the event of a storm surge.

‘‘That’s why we’ve been in touch with Civil Defence and have alerted them to the risk to the properties.’’ The Rohotu Block was not considered a significant public asset under the council’s current policy, despite its cultural and community significance to the area, Dyer said.

A further coastal survey would be done after the spring tides in September 17-19 and October 16-19 to assess the ongoing changes to the coastline.

Board members also brought up their desire to hold Waitangi Day celebrations in Waitara in the future.

Simpson voiced his concerns that the TSB Community Trust funding application only asked for $5000 for the event in New Plymouth when areas throughout the district should be commemorating the historic day.

While other board members agreed with looking at a possible local event it wasn’t up to the NPDC to start discussions around a future event, they said.

‘‘It’s up to the community board to push for that,’’ chairman Joe Rauner said.

The board also received updates on council’s involvement in the North Taranaki Sport and Recreation Incorporated (NTSRINC) Clifton Park project to create sport and leisure facilities for the park.

The Waitara Community Board will be the only community board in the district to hold an election in October.