Waitaki coastal hazards, looking into the future

NIWA has presented their findings to the Otago Regional Council regarding expected coastal hazards in the Waitaki District across 20, 50, 100 and 500 years.

Coastal erosion has been calculated for the entire length of the Waitaki district coast, with no new erosion hotspots identified. This is according to a report on coastal hazards of the Waitaki District contracted by the Otago Regional Council and Waitaki District Council  to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

More than 60 per cent of the coast in the Waitaki district is shown to be retreating at a rate of 15 cm per year or more, with continued erosion rates expected at the current hotspots of Katiki Beach, Beach Road, Kakanui, North Oamaru, Hampden, Kaika and Karita settlements.

Flooding due to storm surge or sea level rise has been mapped for Oamaru, Kakanui, Hampden and Moeraki for various timeframe scenarios at each site. The areas mostly affected by inundation are Oamaru Harbour and Kakanui Estuary.

Click here for more information about Waitaki Coastal Erosion