Public submissions for or against the Akapuao (Enua Manea) Property Coastal Protection Project that aims to prevent further erosion occurring along the coastline and stream bank in Titikaveka, are now open.

Phillip Strickland from the Tu’anga Taporoporo National Environment Service (NES) announced that the environment impact assessment (EIA) by Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) is now open for public consultation.

The beachfront at Enua Manea Hall and the adjacent Ngati Raina cemetery has been suffering extensive erosion for a number of years.

This has likely been worsened by granite boulder revetment wall – a structure to protect against erosion, at its eastern extremity, causing an erosion end effect.

Strickland, the senior environmental compliance officer at NES, says this project aims to prevent further erosion occurring along an approximately 200 metre length of beach and stream bank. This area extends from the existing rock wall at the Enua Manaea Beachfront down to the eastern bank of the stream bed adjacent to the Garnier residence, and ending at the eastern end of the main road bridge.

Approximately 90 per cent of the area to be protected has been set aside as a recreational reserve by the Ngati Raina landowners.

The most obvious option is to use granite boulders which has been used in adjacent properties.

“However, the trial geotextile (sandbag) revetment at Avana is providing evidence that a geotextile container revetment wall works effectively, and has a lower environmental footprint,” Strickland said.

Usually, geotextiles are placed at the tension surface to strengthen the soil or sand to protect upland coastal property from storm surge, wave action and flooding.

The project is designed to reduce further erosion and strengthen the resilience of the reserve area and adjacent land, providing climate proofing to existing structures such as the Enua Manea Hall, the gravesites, and the recreational area popular with locals and tourists alike.

Known as “innovative and sustainable solutions for managing coastal erosion”, the project is proposed by the landowners of the recreational reserve area, a part of Akapuao 42E, under the leadership of Raina Mataiapo George Hosking.

Technical guidance is coming from the local environmental group, Te Ipukarea Society, who has already completed a smaller scale similar project in Avana harbour.

The project will be managed by Te Ipukarea Society’s Alanna Smith and Kelvin Passfield.

NES provides environmental sign off on projects that may have an impact on the environment, categorised into three tiers 1, 2 and 3. This particular EIA permit application falls under a Tier 3 category, which involves an activity that is likely to cause significant environmental impact.

Public submissions for or against the project closes at 4pm, Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Written submissions can be made in either Cook Islands Maori or English.

The submission can be sent via email to nes@cookislands.gov.ck or delivered to the NES office in Tupapa.