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15 days ago

Canterbury beach community ‘thrilled’ with new flood protection plans

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

A North Canterbury beach community is set to get an early Christmas present to help in the fight against rising sea levels.

The Hurunui District Council has confirmed its plans to build a $750,000 coastal bund to protect the Amberley Beach village from the sea, with work to begin this month.

Amberley Beach Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Community Association spokesperson Paula Le Compte said the announcement is good news for residents.

‘‘I know the entire beach community will be thrilled that it is going ahead.’’

A bund is a type of embankment which protects against the sea.

Le Compte said the area was important for fishing and recreation, while the village of 109 properties included a mix of home owners, rentals and holiday homes.

Chief executive Hamish Dobbie said he expected the new bund to be completed by Christmas.

The existing bund is owned by the community and was built in 1993, with the council acting as ‘‘a collector of funds’’.

The council was granted a consent by Environment Canterbury in March last year to build a new bund.

An Amberley Beach Coastal Adaptation Plan was adopted by the council in July last year, following extensive engagement with the community over three years.

The plan identified a number of options for the community to respond to coastal erosion, flooding and sea level rise.

These included a new, relocatable bund, while in the longer term other coastal protection measures or managed retreat will be considered.

The new bund was designed by the residents’ association and approved in August, after being peer reviewed.

It is expected to have a lifespan of 30 years.

The council voted in April to approve the use of debt funding to pay for the new $750,000 bund, with Amberley Beach residents paying for it through a combination of funds already saved and a targeted rate.

Residents approached the council earlier this year with a proposal to increase their targeted rate from $252 to $304 a year, which was included in the Long Term Plan.

The coastal adaptation plan has a clause where residents would need to consider another option, such as ‘‘proactive relocation’’, if the targeted rate for the bund exceeds $750 per household per year.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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More messages from your neighbours
21 hours ago

Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

This belongs to you, but everyone else uses it.

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

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12 hours ago

Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.

When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?

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Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
  • 81.9% Yes
    81.9% Complete
  • 15.3% No
    15.3% Complete
  • 2.7% Other - I'll share below
    2.7% Complete
587 votes
3 days ago

What's your favourite tomato recipe?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.

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