Erosion control plan for Port

Waikato District Council and Port Waikato residents have a plan in place should erosion continue at Sunset Beach.

In recent years, Waikato District Council has sought feedback from the Port Waikato community, the Department of Conservation and Waikato Regional Council on what to do with public assets should erosion continue at the popular beach.

Following public engagement, a report was released in October 2015 which outlined the issues and the options available for alternative sites for car parking and the community hall.

General consensus is that a planned retreat of public assets from erosion is the suitable response. The Port Waikato community has since identified where they would like to see assets such as the hall and carpark move to if erosion dictates this.

Waikato District Council’s Tim Harty said 96 submissions were made. ‘‘This level of engagement by the people of Port Waikato shows the interest of people who either live or visit Sunset Beach. They all want to be part of the forward planning for public assets in Port Waikato.’’

A report details the options to take should erosion continue and the retreat of assets be needed. The preferred option includes keeping carparking as close to the existing Sunset Beach carpark as possible. The recommendations also include relocating the community hall to the Port Waikato rugby grounds if it has to move.