THE CHALLENGES BEHIND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING A Tug-of-War between Private Interests and the Sea Jeremiah Er, erje7160@student.otago.ac.nz
C
limate change is putting New
infrastructure can be attempted
defences will inevitably fail against
Zealand’s houses in jeopardy,
with hard engineered structures
the sea. However, due to the financial
particularly in flood-prone areas
and this is often the first response to
costs involved in purchasing a coastal
and along our coastline. More specif-
coastal protection. However, hard
property, many owners expect to be
ically, the mean sea level in New Zea-
engineering solutions, such as sea
able to use their property indefinitely,
land will rise by at least 10cm and will
walls and groynes, have been proven
regardless of whether it is at risk of
increase the probability that a storm
to be vastly expensive, ineffective and
coastal erosion.
tide will overtop previous high water
unsustainable in the long term.
marks. This means natural hazards
It is also likely the dangers
From a rational and logical point
associated with coastal properties
that were once thought of as unpre-
of view, future coastal development
are not emphasised enough when
dictable and one-off are becoming
should stop. Coastal communities
beachfront property is purchased
more predictable and recurring.
should also be relocated further
even if the impact of coastal erosion is
The protection of land and
inland as any expensive physical
already evident. The value of coastal
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Issue 106 October 2021
