Clifton Beach bounces back after horror years

Despite coastal erosion claiming 45 sites at Clifton Beach over the past four years, this summer it has remained one of the region's more popular holiday destinations.

Only now is the motor camp beginning to quieten down after being completely filled over the Christmas and New Year break, while Gannet Beach Adventures, which runs the gannet colony tours, and the Clifton Marine Club have also had busy seasons.

Last year the camp site took significant punishment from the encroaching seas. In July and August, around 5m of land was lost, throwing doubt on the camp's long-term financial viability.

Clifton Reserve Society co-chairwoman Dionne Thomas said the future of the camp site was still up in the air but she was pleased with the "great summer" so far.

"In the last four years we've lost 45 sites, so this year was a real touch and go decision whether we could financially go on with the loss of sites," Mrs Thomas said. "We've had a fantastic season. We've been full since Boxing Day through to the second. These last couple of nights have been our only breather nights."

She said the Hastings District Council had now given them its "full support", but they were still locked in negotiations with the Hawke's Bay Regional Council regarding what to do to protect the site from further erosion.

Despite the longstanding struggle, she didn't believe it had put people off visiting.

"I don't think it's put people off. It's just diminished the numbers we can cater for. What we've got is what we've got, if we could create more that would be great - but the least we can do is protect what we've got."

While the busy season had given the society a good financial "cushion" for the upcoming winter - helped in part by a nearby landowner's waiver of this year's road access fee - Mrs Thomas warned it would be a "different story" if more sites were lost.

Clifton Marine Club president Mike Mawley believes the concrete boat ramp situated at the far end of the motor camp is crucial to the area.

Boats launched from it can reach Cape Kidnappers within 10 minutes, ambulances can be parked there for quicker responses in a medical emergency, and the fishing off it is "some of the best in the Bay".

"It was only last week or the week before a stingray barb went in a person's leg," he said. "They had to be rushed back here and an ambulance was waiting for them."

Mr Mawley has had a semi-permanent spot at Clifton for the last 15 years, but started camping there when he was 6 or 7. He is now 66.

"It would be a big loss if it closed, that's for sure. I think everybody would fight to the end to keep it."