Tapu Bay foreshore design gets a hearing

February 13th, 2012

Agreement has been reached between the Council and residents that the Tapu Bay Reserve be levelled, a layer of topsoil placed and grassed, to create an attractive green area for recreation and picnics and forestall erosion problems.

A plan suggested by the council for the layout is reproduced at the bottom of this article.

Notes from the meeting held on 27 January 2012 between Council and Tapu Bay residents were prepared by David Ogilvie for the February meeting of the Community Board. Following is a slightly edited transcript the report.

There is conditional and uncertain support for a beach nourishment project. Council staff, especially Eric Verstappen, are strongly in favour of the beach replenishment, which would involve approximately 2,000 m2 of area with 3,000 m3 of imported sand.

Tapu Bay residents expressed their doubts over this following a 700 m2 renourishment in February 2010, which was unsuccessful. The February 2010 project, it was argued, may have caused more erosion of the Reserve.

The Turners Bluff granite may provide appropriate sand, but it will be considered only if it is granular, cohesion-less and is physically suitable. Council and residents accepted this situation and promise.

The possibility of using sand for beach renourishment from the sandspit 100 - 200 metres south of Tapu Bay was discussed as a second possibility to the Turners Bluff granite. This may be promulgated should Turners Bluff sand be unsuitable.

The residents strongly recommended a "hard structure" along the edge of the Tapu Bay reserve to prevent further erosion. This would be mostly a timber wall, with rock walls at the eastern end, and possibly also at the western end. The cost would be between $15,000 and $20,000.

The residents argued that the 2010 renourishment had failed and the Turners Bluff sand would fail also to provide the necessary protection. A "hard protection" was the only likely method to be successful and give the Reserve long-term protection.

Council totally rejected this solution as being unnecessary since there was only low-wave energy in the Bay and it would not comply with the NZ Coastal Policy. Council was definite that it would therefore not be approved in the resource consent process. The residents were forthright in arguing for the "hard structure" protection, but Council was implacably opposed.

It was intriguing and frustrating for residents that none of the Councillors or Council staff gave reasons why a structural protection measure was unacceptable. Contrary to the 2010 NZ Coastal Policy, opposition from Department of Conservation, probable opposition from conservation groups and iwi, would not be approved in a resource consent process were comments made by Council people, but, of course, are not reasons.

The residents mentioned that the Council had constructed "hard" protection recently along Ruby Bay, and previously at Marahau. A "hard structure" protection could be successful at Tapu Bay, it was argued. The residents, undoubtedly, would prefer the "soft" protection that the Council insists on, but the experience of the February 2010 replenishment has left them understandably very sceptical.

A suggestion by a resident that the edge of the Reserve (which is approximately 1 metre vertically above the beach) be re-graded, to create a gradual slope from the beach to the Reserve, was declined by both groups (Council and residents). To achieve an easy slope (eg 5 degrees) would require removing possibly as much as 20% of the Reserve.

The stormwater channel at the western end of the beach was mentioned as a factor in increasing the sand movement, and possibly erosion. Council will look at the matter - a piped or "fixed" channel may resolve it.
Stephen Richards suggested some plantings at the beach/reserve edge but this was rejected by the residents. The plantings at Stephen's Bay were not appealing, in any sense, and Tapu Bay residents did not want anything similar.

In summary,

Support for the upgrade of the reserve.
Reluctant, uncertain and conditional support for re-nourishment of the beach with Turners Bluff granite sand. Council accepted this concern by the residents.
Council would not support any hard structure, desired by residents.
No regarding of the vertical edge; no plantings along the frontage.
Council will investigate the drain problem.

Over 40 attended the meeting, including Cr Norriss, Cr Inglis, Cr Wilkins, council staff Eric Verstappen and Stephen Richards, and David Ogilvie. Residents Mike Steed, Graham Knapp, Paul Gray, Martin Lucas, Michelle White and Jacqueline Kenning were the main speakers. A petition from residents was presented to Cr Norriss.

>> , to be added to the page. [If this link doesn't work, use this form instead]

[ Return ]
[ Other news articles ]

We wish to thank these local community-minded businesses who generously sponsor our site. They recognise the value of supporting this community asset, and in return Motueka Online is pleased to use and recommend their services whenever appropriate.

Ray White Motueka, Parkes Automotive, Motueka Floral Studio, Nelson Building Society, House of Travel