Hawke's Bay councils control more of the beach

Three Hawke's Bay councils now have greater control over local beaches after a change to seaward boundaries.

The change applies to Napier City Council, Wairoa District Council and Central Hawke's Bay District Council. They were among 23 local authorities to have coastal boundaries shifted from the spring high tide mark to the spring low tide mark.

The change, announced by Associate Local Government Minister John Carter last week, standardises seaward boundaries for all local authorities. The remaining 53 local bodies already had jurisdiction to the low tide mark.

Napier City Council regulatory services manager Mike Webster said the change meant the council bylaws now applied to beaches below the high tide mark. The council would now be able to regulate matters such as driving or littering on the beach.

Central Hawke's Bay and Wairoa councils said there would be little practical effect on the council's operation.

Wairoa chief executive Peter Freeman said the council's jurisdiction for matters such as dogs on the beach now extended to the low tide mark.