Residents fear new coastal plan could impact insurance

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents fear red tape could leave them high and dry as plans for future coastal erosion at Motunau in North Canterbury are adopted.

The Hurunui District Council adopted the Motunau Coastal Adaptation Plan on Tuesday, with residents raising concerns the coastal erosion measures could impact on insurance.

Climate change adviser James Smyth said the plan addressed the threat of coastal erosion, flooding and sea level rise in the area and sets out thresholds to discuss the next action for the community.

It was the result of nearly four years of engagement with the Motunau community, which comprises 131 properties.

Some residents expressed concern with the threshold of when a property is within 17 metres of the cliff edge.

The 17m threshold was based on three years of average erosion (0.27m a year) and allowed for a large event with 6m of erosion, while allowing for a 10m safety buffer.

Earthquake Commission (EQC) criteria meant insurance may not kick in until a property was within 8 metres of the cliff edge, Smyth said.

‘‘At this stage we are not sure how to act on this, but it is a definite gap in what these residents need.’’

He said there was a recent incident where a property 10m from the cliff edge was declared unsafe.

This left the resident having to wait for EQC to provide compensation.

Chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the council had responsibilities under the Building Act.

‘‘When we get into this situation, we will geotech the house and make a life safety decision, which is separate from an insurance decision.’’

Other triggers included significant capital works being required and the inundation of saltwater into wastewater wells.

‘‘Implementing triggers takes time so we need to have a pre-defined condition or event which prompts us to consider the next action,’’ Smyth said.

Actions include implementing protection measures such as a sea wall or proactive relocation.

Proactive relocation involves relocating people, assets, activities, and taonga from flood-prone or dangerous locations.

The Motunau plan is the third one adopted by the council, following the Amberley Beach plan, which was adopted in June last year and the Leithfield Beach plan which was adopted in December.

The council is also working on plans for the Gore Bay and Conway Flat/Claverley beach communities.

The process started in 2020 with a ‘‘Coastal Conversations’’ project alongside the five beach communities.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.