08/05/2025
Good to get some clarity from KCDC about issues with the dunes:
"Section 229 of the Resource Management Act sets out the purpose of esplanade reserves as follows:
An esplanade reserve or an esplanade strip has 1 or more of the following purposes:
(a) to contribute to the protection of conservation values by, in particular —
(i) maintaining or enhancing the natural functioning of the adjacent sea, river, or lake; or
(ii) maintaining or enhancing water quality; or
(iii) maintaining or enhancing aquatic habitats; or
(iv) protecting the natural values associated with the esplanade reserve or esplanade strip; or
(v) mitigating natural hazards; or
(b) to enable public access to or along any sea, river, or lake; or
(c) to enable public recreational use of the esplanade reserve or esplanade strip and adjacent sea, river, or lake, where the use is compatible with conservation values.
Usually, esplanade reserves will serve more than one of the above purposes. Public access is provided by default but can be prohibited by the administrating body. Any use of an esplanade reserve must be compatible with the conservation values.
Exclusive rights to occupy a reserve can only be granted via a concession or lease.
Council does not have any specific policy or bylaws protecting views in this area.
The Beach Bylaw 2021 states:
20. Beach Preservation
20.1 No person is permitted to cultivate or tend any plant/s on the beach, other
than those that naturally occur within the Foxton Ecological District, unless with prior permission of the Council.
Council is committed to ecosystem-based restoration, and this includes ecosourcing appropriate species." KCDC reply to Dune Restoration Group queries
Lets hope any planting that does happen this winter and meets all these criteria is not sabotaged!
