Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

Coastal erosion is a natural process and there have been many instances of slips on cliffs around Tauranga Harbour throughout our history.

These slips are problematic because they often result in sediment ending up in the harbour, leave vulnerable slip scarps, and can threaten private property and public reserve land. If predictions of increased extreme weather events, resulting from changes to our climate, come to pass, then we are likely to see more coastal erosion and increased sedimentation of our harbour.

The issue of inner harbour erosion has regained public focus following recent slips on peninsular cliff edges – especially in Tauranga Harbour at Matua and Omokoroa. Residents are seeking more to be done about coastal erosion. In the past, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council has focussed on mitigating sedimentation, resulting from land use and stream and river erosion. And, apart from providing advice to landowners, mitigation of coastal erosion has been regarded as the responsibility of private landowners and the district and city councils.

Increasingly, the councils in the area are taking a joint approach to thorny, cross-boundary issues – and coastal erosion is a case in point. A joint project has been initiated following agreement by Bay of Plenty Regional, Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty District council's to each contribute $30,000 towards a project to help refine policy in this area. The project will review policy approaches taken elsewhere in New Zealand to address cliff slumping in moderate-energy environments (such as harbours and lakes). It will increase our understanding of the mechanics of cliff slumping and property loss, and provide revised estimates of erosion rates (having regard of agreed sea-level rise); and it will feed into a high-level assessment of the benefits and costs of hazard mitigation options. It will also look at what legal responsibilities councils do have to manage hazards and protect public assets (such as roads, reserves and other network infrastructure) and private assets (such as land, dwellings and other structures). Answers to these questions will help councils understand whether – and if so, how – they could protect public or private property (and in what circumstances).

The work is expected to take nine months and result in a draft discussion paper and council policy for consideration and subsequent community consultation.

If you have any views on this or any other issue, please contact me on: neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579 5150. Or you can check out my website at: www.janenees.co.nz