Coastal structures

Within this topic:

Coastal structures can be anything human-made in the coastal area. People build these structures to:

• slow down or prevent coastal erosion (for example, groynes and sea walls)
  
• increase access or mooring sites (for example, marinas, bridges, causeways and boat ramps)
  
• support coastal subdivisions (for example, power poles and storm water pipes).

Coastal structures affect natural character because they change natural coastal processes and features.

Large coastal structures like marinas, marine farms, reclamations and causeways can have major effects on natural character. Smaller structures like storm water outlets and sea walls can have local effects. Groups of structures can have a large collective effect, especially near coastal settlements.

Many of our beaches have been affected by coastal structures such as shoreline protection works, groynes and storm water outlets.

Find out more about shoreline protection structures (such as seawalls) put in place to reduce coastal erosion and protect properties near the shoreline.

The table below lists the number and type of known coastal structures in the Region below mean high water springs (MHWS) in 1995.

Structures surveyed included:

There is ongoing pressure for the construction of coastal structures and for other coastal activities (such as building marinas, reclamation, laying cables). Since 1992, Environment Waikato has issued 173 coastal resource consents. There are a further 63 applications, and 34 applications under appeal.

Where are the coastal structures?

More than 70 percent of all coastal structures are on the shoreline of the eastern Coromandel Peninsula and the Firth of Thames.

Find out where coastal structures are in our Region on our map of coastal structures.

Check out our indicator of Shoreline Protection Structures.