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Release of a plan that identifies problem areas on Whangaparāoa’s coastline and looks at the best strategies to adopt in each location over time has been delayed until February.
Council chose Whangaparāoa for its first Coastal Management Plan – eventually it will prepare plans covering the whole of Auckland’s coastline.
Public consultation took place earlier this year to find out what the community’s priorities are – what they value about the coast and how they use coastal areas and infrastructure.
During the process, the plan’s name has changed to Shoreline Adaptation Plan (SAP).
SAP plans consider how to adapt in the face of erosion and flooding that is getting worse with sea level rise and the other effects of climate change. They are focused on Council-owned land and assets. There are 160 of these in Whangaparāoa (such as toilet blocks, steps, boat ramps and seawalls), as well as reserves and coastal roads.
At a Hibiscus & Bays Local Board workshop on November 18, project lead Dr Tracy Howe told members that most of Whangaparāoa’s coastline could be managed with little or no intervention over the next 100 years.
In the medium term, there would be areas such as on Whangaparāoa Road near Little Manly, and in Army Bay, where a ‘hold the line’ (defending the current coastline) approach may be called for.
Dr Howe said most of the public feedback was focused on big beaches such as Shakespear, Stanmore Bay and Manly and there was a lot of focus on access for water activities, and natural based solutions.
In Stanmore Bay and Big Manly, limited intervention in the short term, including planting trees, is suggested in the draft plan; in Big Manly a review of walk/cycleway and public transport is also mentioned.
Once final changes are complete, the updated plan will be brought to the local board for endorsement in February. It will then go to Auckland Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee for final approval.
