Mike FLetcher

Our district council will fix a stretch of eroded foreshore at Ōpape. This is revealed in an article in last week’s Opotiki News.

The story says the council will “futureproof” the Ōpape coastline with a rock wall of more than 100 metres. Meanwhile, local trustees have imposed a rahui, including the launching of boats.

Is the council creating a precedent?

By helping at Ōpape, the council is open to fixing erosion at other beaches.

Which raises issues about how far a council should become involved in fixing damaged beaches attached to private land.

And who should pay?

The foreshore at Ōpape fronts privately owned land. As is the case with most of the coast. All of which is in the council’s district.

The fix-up at Ōpape – where people have been allowed access to the beach – has the potential to become a bigger issue.

Perhaps the council can explain to ratepayers its policy on foreshore repairs, and the costs.

In these tight economic times ratepayers are struggling to pay their council-imposed tax.

In the current climate the rock wall seems an extravagance. Unless, of course, the Ōpape trustees are paying the council – at commercial rates – to do the job.

Or that the council has obtained a Government grant for the work.

■ Nathan Hughes, Ōpōtiki District Council Group Manager Service and Delivery responds:

The repair and protection work council is undertaking in Ōpape is to rebuild and protect the road.

This includes some provision to extend protection up to where there is an existing culvert to prevent erosion from going around the rock protection and once again threatening the road.

This will include co-funding from NZTA as is common where local roading assets are involved.

Hapū representatives have offered to support council with cultural monitoring, which will be incorporated into the construction works.