Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach photo

Issue In Brief:

Ocean Beach is under assault. A group of developers led by Andy Lowe and his Hill County enterprise have formally proposed a plan change that would permit building 1,000 homes at the beach, with supporting infrastructure. This scale of development would forever compromise the existing pristine nature of the beach.

On January 19th, the Hastings Council triggered the required RMA public submission process on the proposal, which will lead to a decision on the matter by independent commissioners. We urge you to make a submission … here is an Ocean Beach Submissions Guide to help you. Deadline is February 29.

It is highly likely that any decision made by commissioners will be appealed to the Environment Court. The entire process will consume most of 2008 … if not longer. The process is fully described in this BayBuzz article.

The Hastings Council last year considered the fate of Ocean Beach and voted to endorse more limited development, in the range of 300 or so range, concentrated at the south end of the beach, in the Haupouri Flats area. This position is expected to be reviewed in February as the Council, with five new members, determines what submission it will make to the independent commissioners.

Environmentalists believe development of Ocean Beach, if any, should be far more limited.

Resources:

  1. Here is an Ocean Beach Submissions Guide prepared by Future Ocean Beach to help you.
  2. Future Ocean Beach maintains an excellent website with extensive content on Ocean Beach issues.
  3. You can find the official documents related to the RMA process on Ocean Beach here, on the Hastings Council website.
  4. Here is an excellent analysis of Ocean Beach politics and issues prepared by Damian Collins & Robin Kearns, at Auckland University’s School of Geography, Geology & Environmental Science – Debating Property Development in Coastal New Zealand: a Case Study of Ocean Beach, Hawke’s Bay
  5. For an edgier website covering Ocean Beach issues, maintained by local students, visit here.

What You Can Do:

If you wish to oppose development at Ocean Beach, you can take these actions:

  • Sign the Friends of Ocean Beach citizens petition – Say NO to 1,000 Homes at Ocean Beach – which will be submitted to Hastings Councillors and to independent commissioners. You can sign the petition right now online by going to our TAKE ACTION section. Or you can download a copy of the petition here to sign yourself and get others to sign here.
  • Attend the February 21st. 2pm meeting of the Hastings Council, where Councillors will publicly review their position on Ocean Beach. Real live bodies always make an impression on Councillors!
  • Make an official submission yourself under the RMA process initiated by the Council. Your initial submission must be given to the Council by February 29. Here is an Ocean Beach Submissions Guide prepared by Future Ocean Beach to help you.

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