31 January 2008

Coastal issues “no cause for alarm”

Kapiti Coast beach front property owners and those intending to build new or extend existing homes have “no cause for alarm”, Mayor Jenny Rowan said today.

“An item on radio news today has caused some concern to beach front residents, builders, developers and property owners because it implied that any building activity in those areas could be banned within a year,” Mayor Rowan said.

“Certainly the Council has been working through a wide range of issues relating to coastal erosion, flooding and the effects of climate change and we expect we will hold the next stage in the consultation and conversation on coastal hazard issues during the next 12 months.

“We already have requirements for development and building in the coastal area and we are currently working with a great deal of data to produce an effective plan for updating the current building rules.

“When, and only when, we have discussed all the issues with beach front residents and anyone else interested in becoming involved, and we have a degree of public consensus, will we proceed to the next stage of a District plan change to provide a proper legal framework for managing coastal building issues in the face of erosion, flooding and climate change.

“It will be properly publicised, open to wide debate and completely transparent.

“We must certainly take into account the effects of climate change and we must do that sooner rather than later but we will not be doing that at the expense of public involvement and proper process,” Jenny Rowan said.

ENDS

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