7.5 Where to from here?

The following are key points towards implementing improved future management of coastal hazards in Northland:

· Continue to monitor shoreline movements and undertake coastal hazard assessments and make this information available for use.

· Increase preparedness for and our understanding of tsunami hazards and the effects of climate change and sea level rise.

· Revise coastal hazard zones and methodologies used, particularly for further defining the coastal inundation hazard and the integration of coastal hazards.

· Assess adequacy of regional and district plan rules in response to coastal development intensification and subdivision pressure, and develop tools to monitor trends in development of coastal areas subject to hazards.

· Engage the community about coastal hazards and measures to increase awareness of natural processes and hazard preparedness.

· Better integrate the management of the coastal marine area and adjoining land margins to better manage effects of activities, particularly coastal protection works, and avoid activities that exacerbate coastal hazards.

· Promote a consistent and coordinated approach towards coastal hazard management throughout Northland.

· Identify, protect and restore natural systems that are a natural defence to coastal hazards.

Coastal margin management

A plan change to the Regional Water and Soil Plan for Northland (NRC 2007) is being prepared to regulate land use in the coastal margins, preventing land disturbance activities from being adversely affected by marine processes or exacerbating the effects of these processes on other properties. There are also a number of natural, social and cultural values which may be affected by land disturbance activities undertaken in the coastal margin. These are being considered in the development of the plan change.