Geography free essay sample

The KCDC has put in measures to protect the beach from eroding; these include a seawall in Raumati South which stretches from Marine Gardens to Queen Elizabeth Park. This was installed in 1977(2) after the September 1976 storm which created highly destructive waves in which the Raumati South coastline was severely eroded. This seawall absorbs and deflects the wave’s energy and stops erosion. Residents in this area pay extra rates to pay for the seawall to be maintained. In 2007 dune restoration was carried out along the Paraparaumu Beach coastline where dunes were restored, shaped and vegetation planted on. The KCDC protects the beaches as it is stated in the Resource Management Act ’91 policy (3). Manly Street Residents: Manly St Residents support coastal erosion management as they are one of the areas along the Kapiti Coast that is heavily affected by coastal erosion. We will write a custom essay sample on Geography or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They want the KCDC to take action on their problems caused by coastal erosion. These people want the KCDC to save the beaches as it affects their properties and houses. Manly St beach front property owners all agree that there should be measures put in place to stop erosion and their properties be safe. Many Manly St residents support coastal erosion management as the KCDC have already done work to protect their houses. In June, 2003 the KCDC carried out dune restoration along five private Manly St properties. Marilyn Glennon said â€Å"It looks so green and well shaped. The whole beach should look beautiful like this†(9). However within this group Susan Walker, who owns a beach front property on Manly St, thinks that the KCDC should leave the beach alone and let nature that its course, despite her property and house being at risk of being washed into the sea. (4) Oppose Coastal Erosion Management- Local Residents: Some local residents oppose coastal erosion management. This is because they have to pay higher rates to pay for measures to stop erosion. For example people that live in Raumati South have to pay higher rates to maintain the seawall, $65,000 annually (5), despite not even being affected by the seawall. And because of this it means people oppose coast erosion management measures and let nature run its course. Miss Meikle said in a forum in class that â€Å"Personally I do not like paying extra rates to protect other people’s properties†. Most local residents oppose coast erosion management due to the increase in rates, for example in June, 2003 the KCDC carried out dune restoration along five private Manly St properties at a cost of $24,267 of Paraparaumu ratepayers money(9). Ratepayers also have to pay â€Å"hundreds of thousands of dollars†(11) to bring in sand to replace what is being washed away â€Å" ‘three or four’ times a year†(11). It is this action that some ratepayers don’t like as they are paying for something that does not affect them Kapiti Environmental Action: Kapiti Environmental Action (KEA), are a local environmental group on the Kapiti Coast that â€Å"Protection of local environment, coastal environment and escarpment from inappropriate development. Enhancement of local reserves. Opportunities for walkways, bridleways, cycle ways. †(8). Believes that there should be no coastal erosion management measures and a no build zone 300m to 500m. They say that â€Å"We regret that any house has been allowed to be built so close to the sea†. KEA is an environmental group and is open to soft measures, however totally against any hard measures (5). In 2002 KEA took out a court case with the KCDC for appeal on consent for subdivision in Coastal Dune Policy Area. The court found that the proposal was non-complying, visual and landscape effects were significant. KEA did not provide information on environmental effects of earthworks and roading and in the end lost the court case. Even though KEA does want protection of the coastal environment, they do not like ‘hard’ engineering option and are open to ‘soft’ options, like a no build zone. Solutions #1: Option 1 -Let nature run its course, and do not put in measures to stop coastal erosion and let the beach be in equilibrium.