Multiple Use Planning of the Sumner Coastline

MULTIPLE USE PLANNING OF

THE SUMNER COASTLINE

K. ANDERSON, R. COOPER, A. EAVES,

R. ELLEY, S. KILKENNY-BROWN.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary Page 3

2. Introduction Page 4

3. Proposals Page 7

3.1. Dune Restoration Page 7

3.2. Creation of High Tide Beach Page 8

3.3. Artificial Reef Page 9

3.4. Tidal Power Generation Page 10

3.5. Shag Rock Monument Page 11

4. Methods Page 13

5. Results Page 14

5.1. Questionnaire Results Page 14

5.2. Focus Group Results Page 19

5.3. Interview Results Page 20

6. Discussion Page 22

6.1. Key Findings Page 22

6.2. Limitations and Recommendations Page 24

7. Conclusion Page 26

8. Acknowledgements Page 27

9. References Page 28

10. Appendices Page 29

Appendix A: Results Tables Page 29

Appendix B: Questionnaire Comments Page 32

Appendix C: Focus Group Key Points Page 34

Appendix D: Interview Key Points Page 36

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this research report is to identify the possible development proposals for the Sumner coastline post earthquake, whilst working with the Sumner community. Five proposals were selected to investigate; • Dune Restoration • Artificial Reef • Tidal Power Generation • Creation of a High Tide Beach • Shag Rock Monument A multipurpose cycle/walkway and salt baths were also popular suggestions from the community towards the future development of the Sumner coastline. Research methods that were used consist of a combination of; • Web site development • Questionnaire • Focus groups • Interview In general the combination of research methods complemented each other as they allowed for progressive forms of data to be collected and tabulated in a clear concise order. Key Findings: Dune restoration and the development of a high tide beach were the most popular options for future developments. Tidal power generation and a monument at shag rock were the least popular options. Perception of the current management of the coastline is mixed, although marginally unsatisfactory to poor. The most common activities experienced in the Sumner coastal zone according to our survey were walking, surfing, swimming, running and barbeques/picnics. A joint walkway from Scarborough to Redcliffs was supported by a large majority of the community. Research limitations: • Conflicting interests • Cost • Lack of coastal science to support developments • Uncertainty on true community aims

2. INTRODUCTION

The aim of this report is to discover the different coastal development options for the Sumner coastline. We have worked with the Sumner community group to create five possible development proposals, and have investigated each option to find the most suitable proposal for Sumner. The five proposals were dune restoration, building of an artificial reef, creating tidal power generation, construction of a high tide beach, and creation of a Shag Rock monument. The suggestion of a joint cycle/walkway along the coastline from Scarborough to Redcliffs was seen to be a strongly favoured idea that would benefit recreational users along the coastline. The creation of salt water baths was another popular option that would require further research. Our group used several methods to collect data; the development of a website outlining our research, questionnaires which gave the public opinion of the development options, the use of focus groups, and a personal interview. Figures 1, 2 and 3 below illustrate the study area and the location of the five outlined proposals.

Figure 1: Map of the location of Sumner beach in the New Zealand context

Figure 2: Birds eye view of the Sumner coastal zone

Figure 3: This shows a 3D image of the Sumner coastline area. It is illustrated with the different development proposals

3. PROPOSALS

3.1 DUNE RESTORATION Dune management on the Sumner coastline has been irregular over the past, however after the Christchurch earthquakes the community has raised concerns over the management and sustainably of the dune systems and the protection they provide to the urban development, which is located directly behind the dunes. The report “Community-based Dune Management for the Mitigation of Coastal Hazards and Climate Change Effects: A Guide for Local Authorities” provides an adaptive approach to mitigate the effects of sea level rise while raising the communities awareness of coastal hazards. “Performance of the indigenous sand-binders planted on a reshaped Foredune at Okakura Beach, New Plymouth” aims to determine whether replanting indigenous sand-binders is sufficient to stabilize the dunes and protect the scenic reserve behind the foredune. These two reports have provided essential information in regards to the Sumner coastline and the possible future redevelopments of the dune systems.

Figure 4: Dune restoration quadrants on Sumner Beach

The combination of data collection and support from the literature illustrates the strengths community dune restoration would have on the Sumner coastline. The

7 development would allow for present and future protection for the underlying threat of sea level rise and flooding. The redevelopment could also influence the increase of native biodiversity along the coastline.

Management of the dune systems would ideally be by the community so that there is invested interest in what happens in the future. These practices are already in place in five quadrants located north of cave rock (Figure 4). The problems experienced when redeveloping the dune systems include cost and also community support. This proposal would require volunteers‟ work in order for it to be successful.

3.2 HIGH TIDE BEACH ALONG THE SCARBOROUGH ESPLANADE

The implementation of a sand nourishment and revegetation program is the first step in creating a high tide beach. Introduction of native plants such as Spinifex and Pingao would create the greatest natural amenity value. The cost and return period of sediment nourishment is of great consideration here. Secondly, an extension of the breakwater adjacent to the slipway is needed in order to trap sediment losses due to longshore drift. Material for this extension can be sourced from the rocks created by the collapsing cliffs surrounding Sumner post the February earthquake. The implementation of these plans will directly alter the wave angle of approach, the effects of storm surge and spring tides. Further consultation, modelling and measurement will be required to assess the effects on the dynamics of the coastal geomorphology to ascertain the feasibility of this proposal. All considerations need to comply with the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010. There are two main literary items investigated to ascertain the feasibility of a high tide beach at the Sumner esplanade; a study by van Vuren et al. (2004) using numerical modelling to predict future cost benefit analysis for approaches to coastal defence and, the creation of an inventory of facilities and user recreation data, for which coastal managers can base their planning has been under taken by O'Mahony et al. (2009). Van Vuren et al. (2004) established through the means of iterations in a Monte Carlo simulation the future sediment nourishment return period required and economic viability for various predicted shoreline profiles. They address the rationale that 8 climate change will cause sea level rise affecting Holland's particularly low lying hinterland. In natural landscape environs, the coast would be allowed to recede at a minimal cost to society. Coastal defence in built up areas was assessed as to whether the economic cost of protection outweighed the capital and infrastructure in the zone. Allowances were also made for any future economic expansion of the contentious zone. This type of cost benefit analysis is very beneficial to the planners and policy makers to future scenarios of coastal geomorphology and societal influence. The second review of marine policy regards spatial planning for Cork Harbour, Ireland, by (O'Mahony et al. 2009) claims that in order for objective planning of the coastal environment to be achieved, accurate spatial data on recreational use and interactions needs to be gathered. This allows for equitable fair future development.

Both research articles have benefits to the assessment of the creation of a high tide beach at Scarborough. O'Mahony et al. (2009) illustrates good methodology to assess public opinion for such a scheme and the implementation of an integrated planning and management structure in order to avoid conflicts. Van Vuren et al. (2004) provide the tools for an accurate feasibility assessment, allowing the dynamism of coastal geomorphology to be estimated and economic projections calculated.

3.3 ARTIFICAL REEF DEVELOPMENT

An artificial reef is an underwater structure man-made for one or a combination of three rationales: 1) Aiding ailing ocean ecologies by giving sea flora and fauna a home and feeding ground 2) Protecting coastlines from erosion 3) Creating or improving the quality of surf for sport and recreation. A combination of all three of these reasons could bring benefits to the Sumner coast in many ways. Many reefs are built using objects that were built for other purposes, for example by sinking oil rigs, wrecked ships, or by deploying rubble or construction debris. Other artificial reefs are purpose built from PVC or concrete. It has been suggested that the use of damaged construction material and loose rubble from landslides from the Canterbury earthquakes could be used as a more cost effective way to construct an artificial reef. Concerns over pollution and cultural factors may be 9 in opposition to this use. Development of an artificial reef can have its drawbacks, initial and ongoing costs of development can be very high in comparison to other suggested proposals. The natural sedimentology of the coastline can also be altered dramatically with unknown consequences to local and wider coastal environments. The perceived benefits from the construction of an artificial reef are also unknown until after its development, therefore a large amount of money may be spent on an option with little benefit to the community. When studying similar artificial reef construction proposals around the world, two developments were found which can be used when considering the redevelopment of the Sumner coastline. Artificial reefs have been constructed on the Gold Coast, Australia at Narrowneck Beach and at Mount Maunganui Beach, New Zealand. Both examples were built for similar reasons as the proposed artificial reef in Sumner. The Narrowneck Artificial Reef has been reported as a successful multifunctional reef development (Jackson et al, 2005) whereas the Mount Maunganui Artificial Reef has showed no real convincing evidence of achieving the goals it was developed for (Hart, 2011). More research needs to be done on these developments and others around the world if the artificial reef proposal in Sumner is to take further steps.

3.4 TIDAL POWER GENERATION

Marine renewable energy has the potential to make a significant contribution to energy supplies in the future. Electrical generation from marine energy in Sumner has been proposed as a possible idea. However the marine environment is a costly and hostile environment to operate amongst. The idea of tidal generation of power in Sumner has led to various issues regarding the success of the proposal.

One paper reviewed was „Marine energy: getting power from tides and waves‟. It was written by David Kerr, a chief design engineer, in order to provide a general impression of marine energy and to outline future prospects. The paper focused on UK resources, schemes and issues, and investigates several worldwide examples including the main global tidal station at La Rance near St Malo in France. It was noted that integration into the electrical grid is a critical issue if the sources are to achieve their potential contribution. There are also many “technical, environmental and economic difficulties to be overcome and it is likely to take 20 years or more 10 before the potential is realised” (Kerr 2005: 39). Exploiting the potential of marine energy will require commitment, from both the developers and the government. Governments will need to maintain appropriate financial incentives over a long period of time so that the technologies are able to reach maturity and the initial costs will be worth it for the long run. The dominant conclusion the paper drew was that “marine renewable energy has the potential to make a significant contribution to the world‟s energy supplies in the future” (Kerr 2005: 39).

Pegasus Bay is in a micro-tidal zone and therefore does not have the tidal range to support an efficient tidal power generation system. A cost benefit analysis showed that the amount of power we estimated to gain would not be feasible.

3.5 SHAG ROCK MONUMENT

Shag Rock, also referred to as Rapanui, was a notable sea stack which stood at the entrance of the Avon Heathcote Estuary. The stack was of volcanic origin and a useful indicator to the entry of the boating channel into the estuary (Figure 5). The rock stood close to the southern shore just above the low tide level and was a prominent landmark on the road to Sumner. In the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake the rock was destroyed and the remains are still easily seen from the road (Figure 6). The proposal to turn Shag Rock into a monument upholds Maori and tangata whenua values. There have been many conflicting views on this issue. The Iwi values were negative as they believe that the natural environment should stay untouched and undisturbed as a form of tapu (spiritual beliefs). Community members view the monument as a waste of money, and would rather use the money on dune restoration. An interview with Deidre Hart suggested that constructing a plaque or information board would be cost effective. Maori would be against the formation of a monument to commemorate deaths, as this is a European tradition.

Figure 5: Shag Rock pre and post earthquake

4. METHODS

The strategy we chose to undertake divided the five proposals between each of the five group members, we then carried out individual research on our nominated topic. We took a quantitative approach and conducted a questionnaire; this was distributed around the Sumner area to residents and to the people using recreational areas along the coastline. The questionnaire asked the preferences of the proposals, and also included general profiling questions so we got an idea of the demographic of people we were surveying. We created a website that included a brief outline of the five proposals, so browsers were able to gain a wider understanding, so those with no prior knowledge can participate in the questionnaire, and also to target population who would not be available through the street or household questionnaires. We organised focus groups with the hope of receiving feedback from members of the Christchurch City Council, Ngai Tahu, recreational users of the area, and local Sumner residents. The focus groups aimed to reduce bias by getting perspectives from a wide range of sources and provide us with qualitative data for our study. The meetings had a low response rate but still provided valuable information and a greater understanding of what the public and various Christchurch groups want in regard to the re-development of the Sumner coastline. An interview was conducted with Deidre Hart, the Chair of the New Zealand Coastal Society (NZCS), and lecturer at the University of Canterbury in Coastal Studies. This gave us valuable primary information and in-depth geomorphology knowledge.

5. RESULTS

5.1 QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS Of the 160 participants surveyed dune restoration was the most popular outcome for the redevelopment proposal with 33.8% popularity. The creation of a high tide beach at the esplanade was the second favoured with 28.8%. Tidal power generation and a monument at Shag Rock are the least popular with 3.8% and 3.1% respectively. This is represented by figure 6.

Figure 6. Illustrates the popularity of the various proposals assessed for the redevelopment of the Sumner coastline.

“A reef is not an option as it will wreck the beach, consultation with lifeboat is needed. A high tide beach will be too expensive, better to maintain the esplanade and make it flatter for skating.” Comment made by survey participant.

The population profile surveyed by the questionnaire contained a majority of participants between the ages of 21-40 with 45% and 35% between 41-60. 61.8% of participants were from the Sumner community. This is illustrated by figure 7.

Figure 7. Shows the demographic surveyed by the questionnaire.

The pole of the management perception of the Sumner coastline is marginally perceived as in need of redress. 46.2% found the current management unsatisfactory or poor and 43.1% were satisfied or found the current management very good. 12% were not sure on the management of the Sumner coastline. Figure 8 below displays this result.

Figure 8. The pole of the management perception of the Sumner coastline .

“Definitely no reef it is too expensive and a high risk. Christchurch City Council does not have the operational expenditure to maintain this capital should be spent on the land based community.” Comment made by survey participant.

The most popular activities experienced in the Sumner coastal zone according to our survey were those of; walking (29.5%), surfing (12.6%), swimming (11.2%), running (11%) and barbeques and picnics (9.1%) The chart in figure 9 displays these activities.

Figure 9. The most popular activities experienced in the Sumner coastal zone according to our survey.

“I would love to see salt water baths.” Comment made by survey participant.

A simple pole was taken of those in favour of a joint cycleway from Scarborough to Redcliffs and those who were against the idea. The clear majority of the population surveyed were in favour of the initiative with 61.3% and opposing was 38.8%. shown in figure 10.

Figure 10. Illustrates public perception of a joint cycleway from Scarborough to Redcliffs and those who were for and against the idea.

“Make it more for pedestrians, Lycra clad cyclists can hit the road!” Comment made by survey participant.

5. 2 FOCUS GROUP RESULTS

Two focus groups were held on the 21st and 22nd of September at the Sumner Old School Hall. Below are the main ideas and issues raised at these meetings.

. Cycle way, having separated lanes for different activities . New Plymouth example for cycle/walkway . Flooding event in the 50‟s - rock wall built to provide protection, community opinion was against taking the rock wall away . Report on multiple purpose reefs . Shag rock proposal waste of time and completely unbeneficial for the community . Really keen to see a natural, native beach  Salt water baths . Walkway incorporating different interests . Marine energy is not a good use of money, energy management should be focused on household scale then upwards . High tide beach- how will it work? Extension of the breakwater and nourishing the rocks, which is ongoing cost. Import 1000‟s of tonnes of sediment? How practical is this option. Sample section of about 50m would be a good place to start. The corner of beach suggested would be the best place to start some of these ideas. Boat ramp needs to be considered. There is greater need to investigate all users of the coastline. Modelling currents would need to be done to understand which and what ways the sediment flows. . Over topping- does happen on a regular basis . Sumner surf club- creating a multipurpose facility where the RSA and the surf club are combined, however future unknown . Focus on looking after ourselves before everything else - quality of water and food . Development that supports the growth of the village would be fantastic

5.3 INTERVIEW RESULTS

On the 30th September 2011 we interviewed Deidre Hart of the NZCS. Below are notable extracts.

Thoughts on the proposal for dune restoration: “I think Dune restoration is a good idea if you are interested in dune ecology and that is useful for the users in that area, also useful for protection against hazards. There are not a lot of houses in that area but protection of the road is applicable.” “Another factor to look at would be the water quality in the estuary as the earthquake has affected the water quality at Sumner beach.”

On the proposal for an artificial reef: “The Scarborough coast has had an erosion problem and that is why it does not have a low tide beach and that is why there is a revetment. The rocky revetment would not allow a beach to be in front of it due to the low sediment budget environment that you have got there because it increases wave reflection which is erosional. An artificial reef would mitigate an erosion problem.” “ I am not convinced about the ecological benefits as there is no shortage of similar environments in the area.”

On the proposal for a high tide beach at the Scarborough esplanade: ” Beach nourishment is a an intervention trying to change the environment, again you would have to look at the sediment budget, how much deficit it is in, how much wave energy is approaching and what sort and size of sediment is required. Beach nourishment also requires ongoing expensive maintenance.”

On the proposal for tidal power generation: “They tend to put them into low sediment environments these days, -preferably a bit deeper in straights where you are squeezing the tidal water through the turbine. The impact of putting something into the mouth of the estuary is not viable because of the sediment bypassing and would choke the entrance further. We are in a micro tidal environment so would be best in a higher tidal environment.”

On the proposal for a monument at Shag Rock: “If you do not move the rocks and leave them as they are, putting a plaque up or an information board up would not be that expensive.”

On the idea of a walkway-cycleway from Scarborough to Redcliffs: “If you had the cycleway along-side the road behind the dunes you may not get the view of the sea but a nice view of the dune ecology. With cycleways what you do not want to do is to cut down all the dunes and put in grass with a big concrete path as this is the worst possible outcome. With cycleways you also need to consider the other users of the environment, you may need safe areas or lines in the middle of the road so pedestrian users would not feel alienated by the bikers.”

6. DISCUSSION

6.1 KEY FINDINGS

We queried public opinion on the management of the Sumner coastline and investigated what the best suited proposal for future development could be. A large number of Sumner residents were dissatisfied with current coastal management, change therefore is key for the future management of Sumner.

Dune restoration and the creation of a high tide beach are perceived to be the inexpensive options in comparison to other more costly development options such as tidal power generation and an artificial reef. However, renourishment for the high tide beach has high initial set up costs as well as high ongoing maintenance costs. The two preferred options also appear to be the safer choices in terms of coastal science. Little is known about the physical impacts of development on the coastline as it is a very sensitive environment. A great deal of research and modelling will need to be undertaken to ensure the negative impacts of development do not outweigh the positives.

As Polyzos and Minetos (2007) found in their research on valuing environmental resources, public opinion on coastal management tends to favour soft engineering techniques and retaining the natural look of the coastline, this perspective would have played a part in the results we found. Throughout our research the idea of a combined walkway and cycleway from Sumner to Redcliffs was popular, therefore we decided to include it in our questionnaire. We found that the majority of the public believed that this transport link would be beneficial for both communities. There was a high level of interest regarding this concept, with many contrasting opinions on how the development would work. Key suggestions that arose were having clear separation between cyclists and pedestrians for safety reasons, and extending this route to Ferrymead.

The focus groups brought to our attention several ideas. One key study that has proven successful is the implementation of a walk/cycleway in New Plymouth, the Sumner walk/cycleway could be modelled on this example. Many of the local surfers 22 thought that the surf zone would be too concentrated as a result of the implementation of an artificial reef, however many other surfers were in favour of this proposal.

In our interview with Deidre Hart we explored each proposal and discussed her thoughts. She gave positives and negatives on all the proposed developments and their suitability for the Sumner community, however clearly favoured the restoration of the dune system. Her main reasons given for this opinion were the great importance of the dunes for protection against hazards, as there are a lot of houses in the area and the main road is a critical transport link for Sumner residents. One of the key themes we found when in discussion with Deidre was the importance of community opinion.

“What is the vision for Sumner as a community, from the people to the environment, how do they want it to appear in fifty years time and how does each of these proposals fit in”

Extensive assessment of the coastal science and a cost-benefit analysis of each of the proposals also came up as important factors and results of these will be critical when making any decision about the future development of the Sumner coastline. Future environmental conditions such as sea level rise and increased storminess will also have to be taken into account as the prognosis for the low lying area is unknown. Therefore, a robust decision will have to be made.

6.2 LIMITATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

When considering different proposals there are always conflicts of interest which arise among those involved. An example of this was found with the proposal of an artificial reef and the creation of a high tide beach for Scarborough. There is a major conflict of interest with this proposal due to the location of the slipway for the Coastguard Sumner lifeboat. The requirements of which is a deep channel to launch vessels for the means of search and rescue. Therefore the trapping and introduction of sediment is far from ideal in this zone.

We did not feel we had the required knowledge and experience to provide accurate estimates of the cost for each proposal. In order to calculate estimates further research would need to be undertaken and guidance from trained professionals would be required. As we could not take the cost into consideration we placed a stronger focus on the needs and aims of the community and the importance of the local environment.

More knowledge also needs to be gained on the science behind each of the proposals if a decision is going to be made. Each proposal will have its own benefits and detriments to the Sumner community, and understanding the science behind these will be crucial in any decision. Understanding which development option is more culturally, environmentally and scientifically sustainable is also key.

Aims of the community varied depending on the recreational interests of those involved. However, the general consensus concluded that dune restoration was an important and urgent issue as dune alteration could affect many of their homes in the future.

The questionnaires were distributed in Spring, creating a possible limitation as the recreational users of the area may be scarce and may be different to the majority of users present in Summer. A major disadvantage of questionnaires identified by Kingham (2011) is the possibility of low response rates. To overcome this issue we also created a website and attached the questionnaire in an online version for browsers to complete.

Poor participation of focus groups was a main limitation of our study. On reflection, the response rate could have been increased if we had advertised the focus groups for a longer period of time and if we had offered incentives to the individuals that took part in the focus group. This would have given us a wider range of in-depth information on the perspectives of the proposals and would have provided further positive and negative aspects of each proposal.

There were two funding initiatives which could be pursued by the Sumner community group, one being grants from the Ministry for the Environment, and the second being funding via Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC). The Ministry for the Environment has a New Zealand biodiversity strategy to protect and manage indigenous biodiversity. Funding could be sought through this agency for the facilitation of dune restoration. SPARC invests in community plans for increased participation in sports and recreation, so the creation of the cycle/walkway could be partially funded by this initiative.

7. CONCLUSION

The purpose of this research was to gain a further understanding of the multiple uses of the Sumner coastline. Working closely with the community group and local community members enabled us to advance discussion on the proposals. The five proposals ensured the community had many choices of development options for the Sumner coastline in the future. Overall there was a strong response from the community to further investigate the options of dune restoration and the creation of a high tide beach at the southern end of the bay. The sample group we questioned was indecisive in regards to the current coastal management of Sumner, this could be due to their lack of knowledge or interest in this field. In order to decide on the most appropriate proposal for the future, further research is needed and guidance will be required from professionals in order to calculate costs and formulate construction plans of the proposals.

8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Claire Kain, Shane Orchard, Baden from the Sumner Community, the Sumner Community Group, Deidre Hart and Bailey Peryman for their generous contributions of time and information.

9. REFERENCES

Bergin, D. Miller, E. Ensis. Jamieson, P. (2007) Performance of the Indigenous Sand- Binders Planted on a Reshaped Foredune at Okakura Beach, New Plymouth.

Dahm, J. Jenks, G. Bergin, D. (2005) Community based dune management for the mitigation of coastal hazards and climate change effects. Available from: www.envbop.govt.nz/media/pdf/report/coastalhazardandclimate.pdf (30 July 2011)

Hart, D (2011) Personal interview 30 September 2011.

Jackson, L, Tomlinson, R, Turner, I, Corbett, B, D‟Agata, M and McGrath, J (2005) Narrowneck Artificial Reef results of four years of monitoring in Proceedings of the 4th International Surfing Reef Symposium California, U.S.A.

Kerr, D. (2005) ICE Civil Engineering. Marine energy: getting power from tides and waves. Issue 158, pp 32-39.

Kingham, S (2011) Questionnaire Design and Analysis [online]. Available at: http://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/mod/resource/view.php?id=8949 Accessed on 8 October 2011.

O'Mahony C. Gault J. Cummins V. Kopke K. O'Suilleabhain D. (2009). 'Assessment of recreation activity and its application to integrated management and spatial planning for Cork Harbour, Ireland'. Marine Policy, Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, Environmental Research Institute, Vol. 33, pp. 930-937.

Polyzos, S and Minetos, D (2007). Valuing environmental resources in the context of flood and coastal defense projct appraisal: A case study of Poole Borough Council seafront in the UK in Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal Vol 18 No 6 Emerald Group Publishing Limited van Vuren S. Kok M. Jorissen R. (2004). 'Coastal Defense and Societal Activities in the Coastal Zone: compatible or conflicting interests?'. Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 550-561.

Images

Cover Photo: Personal Photograph

Figure 1: [online]. Available at: http://www.wallingford.co.nz/images/South3.jpg Accessed on 8 October 2011.

Figure 4:[online]. Available at: http://www.sumnercommunity.org.nz/Community- Groups/Environment/Projects/Sumner-Beach-Dune-Restoration Accessed on 8 October 2011.

Figure 5: Eregli,B. February 2008, Nasier, A. March 2011

10. APPENDICES

Appendix A.

Table 1: Residence of survey participants.

Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid 3 1.9 1.9 1.9

Chch 37 23.1 23.1 25.0

other 11 6.9 6.9 31.9

Sumner 109 68.1 68.1 100.0

Total 160 100.0 100.0 Note: Chch = Christchurch

Table 2: Age of survey participants.

Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid 2 1.3 1.3 1.3

<20 16 10.0 10.0 11.3

21-40 72 45.0 45.0 56.3

41-60 56 35.0 35.0 91.3

61+ 14 8.8 8.8 100.0

Total 160 100.0 100.0

Table 3: Popularity of activities associated with the Sumner coastal zone.

Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid walking 126 29.5 29.5 29.5

visit 1 .2 .2 29.7

swim 48 11.2 11.2 41.0

surfing 54 12.6 12.6 53.6

sun 30 7.0 7.0 60.7

running 47 11.0 11.0 71.7

p&b 39 9.1 9.1 80.8

kite 1 .2 .2 81.0

kayak 6 1.4 1.4 82.4

drink 2 .5 .5 82.9

dog w. 37 8.7 8.7 91.6

cycle 30 7.0 7.0 98.6

cruise 5 1.2 1.2 99.8

boat 1 .2 .2 100.0

Total 427 100.0 100.0 Note: sun = sunbathing, p&b = picnics & barbeques, kite = kite surfing, drink = drinking, dog w. = dog walking.

Table 4: Perception of the current management of the Sumner Coastline.

Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid 5 3.2 3.2 3.2

not sure 12 7.6 7.6 10.8

poor 31 19.6 19.6 30.4

satisfactory 54 34.2 34.2 64.6

unsatisfactory 42 26.6 26.6 91.1

very good 14 8.9 8.9 100.0

Total 160 100.0 100.0

Table 5: Popularity of proposals for the redevelopment of the Sumner coastline.

Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid 2 1.3 1.3 1.3

all of the options 1 .6 .6 1.9

artificial reef 20 12.5 12.5 14.4

creation of H.T.B. 46 28.8 28.8 43.1

dune restoration 54 33.8 33.8 76.9

monument 5 3.1 3.1 80.0

no change 26 16.3 16.3 96.3

tidal power gen. 6 3.8 3.8 100.0

Total 160 100.0 100.0

Table 6: Perception of participants for a joint walkway-cycleway from Scarborough to Redcliffs.

Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid In favour 98 61.3 61.3 61.3

Not so 62 38.8 38.8 100.0

Total 160 100.0 100.0

Appendix B.

General comments on the proposals outline for the redevelopment of the Sumner Coastline. “Why wreck the beach with a reef?” “A reef is not an option as it will wreck the beach, consultation with lifeboat is needed. A high tide beach will be too expensive, better to maintain the esplanade and make it flatter for skating.” “The litter problem needs addressing.” “Leave foreshore in a natural state, no cafes or buildings, tidal generation would be good if it is unobvious.” “Bring back bells saltwater baths.” *8 “Too many unforeseen consequences spend money on the living environment.” “Clean water!” ” No monument, if we need one it should be at cave rock.” “More community involvement/ownership.” “Improve the esplanade walkway, especially dog poo zone between seal and boulders.” “Definitely no reef it is too expensive and a high risk. CCC does not have the OPEX (operational expenditure) to maintain this capital should be spent on the land based community.” “Need a box for 'other' as you need more research into proposals, reef is just a seawall hidden from site. You need to explain more about the tidal power generation proposal.” “I would love to see salt water baths.” “Could you include a skate park?” “A reef would be good for surfing.” “A cycleway to Ferrymead is needed to reduce traffic.” “Push back the seawall to the rear of the esplanade to make room for a beach.” “I would like to see shops and cafes along the esplanade.”

General comments on the development of a cycleway from Scarborough to Redcliffs: “To Redcliffs and beyond, both ways.”

“This is desperately needed as it is unsafe for kids as it is.” “This would increase cycle safety, but decrease pedestrian safety from the cyclists.” “Make it more for pedestrians, Lycra clad cyclists can hit the road!” “This would connect the communities together safely.” “Make sure there are separate lanes for bikes and pedestrians.” ”This is a good proposal but expensive, if volunteers were to complete the work with the quality assurance by CCC.” “All the way to town.” “The New Plymouth coastal option is one to replicate.” “Copenhagen style!” “Definitely along the coastal frontage and include light rail.” “Walkway only.” ” dog walkers + leash + cyclist = hazard.” “It depends on the width and the cyclists manners.” “This is dangerous when walking kids.

Appendix C:

Focus Group key points:

 Which option do you consider to be the best option for the Sumner community? o Cultural and natural/environmental balance within development. o Are these the only five developments? . Other options, salt water baths.

. Historical society- good source of information.

. Toppy Rule- wealth of knowledge.

. Cycle way, having separated lanes for different activities.

. New Plymouth example. Pictures provided by one of the participants. Is a very popular area for the community.

. Unsure about the development of a dune system with the esplanade. Having sediment development on the rocks with vegetation.

. Flooding event in the 50‟s- the rock wall was built to provide protect has there been consideration regarding the removal of rock wall. The community opinion was against taking the rock wall away.

. Report on multiple purpose reefs, „focusing reef‟ creates a place off shore the waves don‟t break off shore, but the swell is grabbed and placed to ensure that the coast line stays the same. Maori perspective, mixing the two life forces is seen as forbidden.

. Shag rock proposal would be a waste of time and completely unbeneficial for the community.

. Community dune management.

. Really keen to see a natural, native beach.

. Walkway incorporating different interests and taking the time to get something really right for the community. Walkway development proposed was turned down pre earthquakes.

. Marine energy is very costly and will only work with the right amount of tidal generation and tidal change. Not a good use of money. Question about a trial all ready out in the bay, but the group was unsure about what was going on. Energy management should be focused on household scale then upwards.

. High tide beach- how will it work? Extension of the breakwater and nourishing the rocks, which is ongoing cost. Import 1000‟s of tonnes of sediments. How practical is this option. Sample section of about 50m would

be a good place to start. The corner of beach suggested would be the best place to start something of these ideas. Boat ramp needs to be considered. There is greater need to investigate all users of the coastline and what needs and wants are the greatest. Modelling currents would need to be done to understand which and what ways the sediment flows.

. Over topping- does happen on a regular basis.

. Cultural aspect of the coastline.

 Market- focal point, need to consider the local retailers half would love the idea as it would bring extra people out, the other half would see it taking business away.  Cycle and walk way.  Creating a dynamic space “everyone is doing a market” could we come up with something different?

. Sumner surf club; creating a multipurpose facility where the RSA and the surf club are combined, however the future is unknown at this stage. Keeps the people in the area for longer. . Consideration around the natural environment needs time and skills. . Things need to be changed but the natural element needs to be kept and enhanced. . Within the development there needs to be a focus on looking after ourselves before everything else. Quality of water and food. . Depends how you interpret the word “development”? . Development that supports the development of the village would be fantastic.

Appendix D.

Interview with Deidre Hart, Chair of the NZCS and Lecturer in coastal studies at the University of Canterbury, taken 30th September 2011.

D = Deidre Hart K = Karis Anderson R = Regan Elley A = Ashton Eaves

A: Introduction. D: You guys have investigated these proposals, this community dune Management, what is that about? K: It is about how the community perceives the dunes and dune building. Sumner is doing this with native species and the like, in conjunction with the dune restoration. D: So which part of the coast are you talking about? K: From Cave rock to Shag rock. D: I think Dune restoration is a good idea if you are interested in dune ecology and that is useful for the users in that area, also useful for protection against hazards. There are not a lot of houses in that area but protection of the road is applicable. Research by a royal society fellow showed that the area is very changeable, the width of that beach quite changeable, from narrow to wide due to changes in the mouth of the estuary which can affect the sediment budget for the beach. ECAN beach profiles have shown this and a 309 group in 2005 reported this. The success of the dune rehabilitation will be partly affected by the sediment budget but the city council park rangers know a lot and are quite good at this in Sumner, so if they are committed to the project then I‟m sure it could work. When you are looking at a populated part of the coast like that you are always looking at people‟s values and uses of the coast. A: There was one person at the focus group who pointed out that the estuary has risen at the southern end and fallen at the northern end, do you think that will affect the outcomes? D: Yes, there is a report by Murray Hicks analyzing and resurveying of the estuary and found that the whole estuary has tilted. The biggest change in the estuary from the report has been a change in the size of the estuary, or the wetted perimeter has reduced by about a third with large ecological shifts in the salt marsh. Outlet channels change and the bars at the outlet change so the impact on the Sumner beach is unknown at this stage but the best way to understand the change is to look at the effects over time. Therefore it needs further investigation. Another factor to look at would be the water quality in the estuary as the earthquake has affected the water quality at Sumner beach. Another area of concern is that of the production of sea lettuce, which is a big problem in the summer time. It was thriving on the oxidized water from the sewer treatment plant, plans for an off shore sewer outfall before the earthquake were to mitigate this effect. Post earthquake the water quality is going to be a lot worse off at Sumner, so not just the geomorphology is of concern here. ECAN is monitoring this which can be viewed at their website. A: The second proposal is for an artificial reef. D: So tell me about this proposal?

R: This is proposed for the Scarborough end to increase the wave size, but also to increase the ecology for fishing and diving. From what we have surveyed it is quite controversial, some are for and some are against. D: So why are people for it? Is it because they want a better wave and ecological enhancement? Why would people be against it? R: Because people did not want to change the natural curve and slope of the beach or they did not know what the effects of the change may be. K: We were talking about the natural rubble from the earthquake, many were against that especially the local Iwi due to the tapu of the rocks and local mythology. D: There are predicted problems going to result in Lyttelton Harbour from the dumping of city rubble containing materials such as tanalised wood, asbestos etc, into the Harbour, but if you are considering natural rubble then you would not have much of a chemical contamination problem with that. The Scarborough coast has had an erosion problem and that is why it does not have a low tide beach and that is why there is a revetment. The rocky revetment would not allow a beach to be in front of it due to the low sediment budget environment that you have got there because it increases wave reflection which is erosional. Artificial reefs tend to be put in for one of two reasons; 1. To create a surf break and 2. Mitigate an erosion problem. The little science I have seen shows that you can do one OR the other. The placement is different for a surf break vs. the encouragement of sediment accumulation, although some companies advertise that they can do both. A NZ company claims that they can increase the ecological benefits but this statement is unsubstantiated. I guess with the rubble it would be quite well oxygenated and in high wave energy so would only attract organisms that could withstand that environment, similar I guess to the rest of Banks Peninsula. I am not convinced about the ecological benefits as there is no shortage of similar environments in the area. You would have to look through the literature further. There is another company called the reef ball company, which build hollow rock balls to fill gaps in coral reefs. But the question is why would you not just work with what is there and try and improve that? A: On this issue we have conflicting views because the boat club exits out of Scarborough through a channel here and so would not want the trapping of sediment. D: If it reduces wave energy coming into Scarborough then it could eat away at the erosion problem, but you need some really good science if you are going to support an artificial reef. They can introduce as many problems as they start to solve. My only field experience of an artificial reef is the geotextile one at Mount Maunganui by ASR Ltd. R: Did they have evidence of it working? D: Not really convincing evidence. A: This leads us into the proposal for a high tide beach at the Scarborough esplanade. R: Building up the beach as it was before through sediment nourishment. D: Beach nourishment is a an intervention trying to change the environment, again you would have to look at the sediment budget, how much deficit it is in, how much wave energy is approaching and what sort and size of sediment is required. Beach nourishment also requires ongoing expensive maintenance. In Oriental Bay they have spent $5m on the initial set up and then the council goes along with a grader 3 or 4 times a year as the longshore drift pushes the sediment to one end. They have also installed a groyne to minimize the loss of sediment, but top ups are required as there is sediment loss offshore. So you would have to look at the economics of the situation and see who is going to fund it. Oriental Bay was funded by the residents association. Sumner already has a sandy beach so not really justified by demand.

A: And you have a high wave energy environment as well. D: You probably could do it but you may combine it with an artificial reef to reduce wave energy and it might be very expensive to maintain. You would also have to look at a sediment source with resource consent to mine the sediment and consent to place the sediment, therefore a big expensive undertaking for the required result. The only positive I see of an artificial reef from an engineering point is that they are not as visually disruptive as they are under the water. All this would cost many millions of dollars and I am not sure if the Sumner residents are aware of that. I think the other important thing to discuss with community groups is the follow up costs, a trust would need to be formed in order to account for future expenses. Councils these days are reluctant to use the general rates to fund such endeavours. A; The next option is for tidal power generation which is an ambiguous task as the estuary is set to infill, you would not see enough flow, but my understanding is that they can be placed on the sea bed too. D: Yes, you do not want sand flowing through the turbine as this will abrade and clog it up. They tend to put them into low sediment environments these days, -preferably a bit deeper in straights where you are squeezing the tidal water through the turbine. If this were a wind energy generation proposal you would tend to do some wind forecasting, this is applicable too for tide forecasting. The impact of putting something into the mouth of the estuary is not viable because of the sediment bypassing and would choke the entrance further A: One person from the focus group mentioned that our tidal range is too low. D: Yes we are in a micro tidal environment so would be best in a higher tidal environment. A wind farm could be a better proposal. A: The final proposal is to turn Shag rock into a monument upholding Tangata whenua values, this has been met with criticism from local Iwi due to the life force of the rocks. K: A lot of community members see it as a waste of money as well, to build up a rock, they would rather see it go to dune restoration or something more worthwhile. D: What do they mean by turn it into a monument? K: Put a plaque up. D: If you do not move the rocks and leave them as they are, putting a plaque up or an information board up would not be that expensive. R: Depends on how large a monument they want to install. D: Kind of like a nineteenth century clock tower on top of it. K: This option has not been favourable. D: Cultural sensitivity should be adhered to if you want to commemorate deaths through a plaque or sign board. Perhaps Maori would not want to put a big notice up to commemorate deaths as this is more a European tradition? Shag rock is of interest locally so maybe a photo of the change could be used, not as a remembrance of death but of the event itself? A: Another option we consulted the population about was to install a joint cycleway- walkway from the boat house in Scarborough right around to Redcliffs, A few people wanted that extended through to Ferrymead, comparable to the causeway in New Plymouth. Would you see any coastal problems with this proposal? D: You already have that sort of beach environment at Scarborough and you can see what kind of beach environment it is linked to, so if you were going to do that you would have to set it back away from the coastal environment into the terrestrial environment, which there is not a lot of, there is just the road. But if you put it alongside the road (which you have to maintain anyway) then you would reduce the

38 effects. I would not put a fixed structure through the dynamic natural sandy environment. Putting a non fixed structure, like a wooden walkway you would have to look at the impacts of the people traffic. This is something they will have to think about if they build some nice big thick dunes, they will have to think of pathways through those dunes. So if you had the cycleway along-side the road behind the dunes you may not get the view of the sea but a nice view of the dune ecology. With cycleways what you do not want to do is to cut down all the dunes and put in grass with a big concrete path as this is the worst possible outcome. With cycleways you also need to consider the other users of the environment, you may need safe areas or lines in the middle of the road so pedestrian users would not feel alienated by the bikers. A: This is a tough issue as by Shag rock there is little room to expand due to the width between the cliffs and the cutting in of the estuary. D: Another thing to consider is McCormick‟s Bay, a choked little bay acting as a nursery for sea lettuce where it initially become established as it is so nutrient at the start of the bloom every year. Some people saw the long term view as getting rid of this part of the road and return it to the base of the cliffs to open the estuary back up. This is where the road was traditionally, moving the road back is something to consider in the development of a cycleway along that stretch of coast. D: I guess you have to look at what people want for the Sumner, what are they aiming at, these are very diverse proposals, and it does seem a bit scattered in terms of purpose. What is their vision for Sumner as a community -from the people to the environment, how do they want it to appear in fifty years time and how does each of these fit with that is the question. They are very different things and they will do very different things to that environment. A: That is a good point. D: From a point of coastal planning, coastal managers who have to manage it into the future, you should take a wide view to incorporate all the residents and what they see is the Sumner plan for all the transport routes, infrastructure, electricity, sewerage, schools people, businesses and industries, who come from the city to use facilities versus who is local and the uses of that environment, and who benefits from the use of the beach. Looking at the wider plan is an interesting topic rather than fitting each of these proposals into that system. Discover what the main aim of the proposals is; is it to be more self-sufficient, if so it can be done in other ways? A; Yes, agreed. A half billion dollar offshore power plant is quite different from having a few wind turbines in ones back yard to generate electricity. D: Sometimes with coastal management certain people can be quite vocal in support of their own interests, for example planting the idea of a surf reef into the communities mind, or as Eric would call it „problematising‟ the situation for people. It would be interesting to see what the coastal planners see is the issue for Sumner. With sea level rise and an increase in storminess, what is the prognosis for that particular environment, being fairly low lying and what would help make it more robust with those changes. For example the dune enhancement program might or might not be useful depending on the scale of changes. Put it within the context of community and the future of the environment to see if it makes sense. Best to give the community a range of options with both the positive and negative effects of the proposals there by giving them the freedom to decide based on their values and move forward from there.