Support for Coastal Hazards will help Hawke’s Bay

Local Government New Zealand’s call for a better-coordinated response to coastal hazards is timely.

Peter Beaven chairs the joint Committee for Hawke’s Bay’s coastal hazards strategy, with a horizon out to 2120. He welcomes LGNZ’s recent position statement, which positively goes wider than just sea level rise.

The Hawke’s Bay coastal hazards project is getting strong guidance from community-based assessment panels who will shortly recommend options for the wider community to consider.

“Sea level rise will have an impact on so many New Zealand communities, including at-risk coastal settlements in Hawke’s Bay,” says Mr Beaven, who is also a Councillor for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

“These hazards need local authorities to work closely with Central Government to manage the response. This signal for better-coordination is welcome, as central Government has been barely visible up to this point.”

Mr Beaven believes that Hawke’s Bay has been fortunate.

“From the outset our regional, district and city councils have recognised the need for a coordinated response strategy. We are well-advanced with our local community on this. However, future uncertainty and costs require far greater input and commitment from Government than what we’ve seen to date.”

ENDS

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