Holding Back Sea Level Rise With A Pen

Denis from Thames

Council's Delusional "coastal environment line"
The District and Regional Councils must define the "coastal environment line" around the entire Peninsula coast. The line is very important because the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) only applies to areas within the line. The NZCPS has very strict policies requiring the Council to take account of climate change and sea level rise for at least the next 100 years.

Bizarrely, the District Council’s coastal environment line excludes the three coastal towns of Thames, Whitianga, and Whangamata. Why would the Council wish to exclude these towns from the coastal environment? Do they not want to be obliged to have regard to the climate change and sea level rise policies in the NZCPS when considering new and existing development within those three towns?

If that is the case then the level of head in the sand avoidance of sea level rise issues is astounding and deeply worrying. Low-lying land within these three townships is going to be severely affected by sea level rise (Thames and Whitianga are particularly at risk) regardless of where Council might choose to draw a line on a map. Surely its prudent and sensible to confront the reality of sea level rise and plan accordingly rather than act like King Canute and try to hold back the sea with a pen and a line drawn on a map?

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