Landowner Approval Gained For Seawalls To Protect Golden Bay Homes In 'Dire Situation'

Thursday, 18 September 2025, 4:52 pm
Article: Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter

Fifteen Golden Bay properties are one step closer to being protected from coastal erosion. 

Last week, Tasman District Council gave its landowner approval for two rock walls to be built at the small coastal communities at Pākawau and Awaroa that would protect three and 12 properties respectively.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, president of the Pākawau Community Residents Association Hugh Gully was “really pleased” with the council’s decision which he said had been 10 years in the making. 

“It’s another step forward, and it certainly is a very, very positive step forward.” 

Gully said the three homes in Pākawau that the rock wall would protect were in a “dire situation” after a storm in May saw three metres of land swallowed by the sea. 

“We believe that we are one storm away from… one house in particular falling into the water.”

Neighbouring properties which had a rock wall built about 18 months ago were unaffected. 

“All we’re wanting to do is just extend it for the next three [homes] because… it’s not a good situation,” Gully said. 

Extending the rock wall would also have the benefit of rebuilding a council esplanade reserve and walkway along the shorefront, and the property owners would cover the entire cost of construction.

Other rock walls in the area which had been around for decades were also performing “extremely well”, Gully added. 

While he was appreciative of the council’s support, Gully said he was “a bit nervous” about the council seeking a cash bond for the project. 

Properties benefitting from the new, adjacent rock wall had an indemnity agreement with the council which meant they would pay the council any losses it suffered as a result of the wall. 

“We were hoping that the registered land covenants gave [the council] enough security and that they didn’t also want a cash bond from the residents,” Pākawau resident Lisa Alexander said. 

“Pākawau is a modest beach community. These are people who don't have large sums of money… we’re just trying to achieve something that’s fair for that community.” 

During the discussion around the council giving its landowner approval, Mayor Tim King indicated the bond could be any value from “$0.1 through to some other figure”. 

“That depends on a whole range of factors that have to be considered,” he said. 

The council’s policy on coastal erosion protection structures seeks bonds or other security arrangements to cover damage and claims. 

Despite receiving landowner approval, it’s not close to the end of the process for the two seawall projects. 

Both still need to secure resource consent for their construction, and the Awaroa project also needed approval from the Department of Conservation because of its responsibility for the Abel Tasman Foreshore Scenic Reserve. 

Working to gain a resource consent would be the “next priority” for the Pākawau residents, said community member Lisa Alexander.

Council staff indicated that approval from DOC for the Awaroa seawall might take “a number of months” but that the department had been kept informed about the project. 

King added that it would be “entirely appropriate” for the applicant for the Awaroa project to request a letter of support from the council for DOC before it considered the application. “I’m sure that can be covered.” 

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