Fears for surfing if breakwater built
OPPONENTS are fighting council plans to build a breakwater at Napier’s Westshore Beach, saying it would ‘‘kill surfing’’.
More than 200 people have completed a survey to save the Westshore reef for surfing. The survey supports the 42 submissions to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council against Napier City Council’s application to build an H-shaped breakwater at Westshore, protecting the eroding beach.
It previously applied to build the structure in 2009 and 2011. The Environment Court resolved a dispute between the two councils over whether the proposed structure complied with the coastal environment plan earlier this year.
The city council wants to repair an existing seawall built in 1994 and build the breakwater to replace an existing one that may fail in a big storm, threatening nearby houses.
It is estimated to cost $1.25 million. Work on the structure could begin mid to late next year. Just one submission supports the application, with two taking a neutral stance.
Marguerite Vujcich said the proposed breakwater would eliminate the ‘‘nursery’’ surf break used by children and people learning to surf. Her own children had learnt to surf at Westshore.
The champion surfer was passionate about saving one of her favourite surfing spots. She never went anywhere without her boards and often stopped at Westshore on her way home from town. ‘‘Whenever it’s pumping, I’m there.’’
Stand-up paddler Glenn Abel said the breakwater would ‘‘kill surfing on the reef’’’.
The reef was the best-quality surfing wave within the city boundary, surfer Stu Davey wrote in his submission against the proposal. ‘‘The reef should be considered as a valuable natural sports ground, it has cost nothing to establish and it costs nothing to maintain.’’
Surfers appreciated what nature provided and weren’t lobbying for changing sheds, toilets or any other amenities, he said.
Erosion at Westshore has been an ongoing concern. Since 1987, the council has deposited more than 300,000 cubic metres of gravel and sand to renourish the beach.
The existing breakwater is thought to be responsible for erosion by funnelling waves into the southern end of Westshore beach and exacerbating the northward movement of sediment.
Napier City Council works asset manager Bill McWatt expected a number of opposing submissions. Technical experts would review submissions and answer any questions and concerns raised at the hearing. A hearing date is yet to be set.