Coastal erosion expert Dr Wayne Stephenson remains confident Ocean Beach is undergoing a natural pattern of erosion and accretion.
This despite the "dramatic'' nature of an updated satellite image from Google showing the extent of erosion when compared with a photo of the same area in 2013.
"I'm still of the view what we are looking at is one of those short-term storm bites rather than a long-term transformation of the beach line,'' the University of Otago geography senior lecturer said.
Human intervention and artificial heightening of the dunes were the reason the erosion looked so dramatic.
"I understand the residents' concerns. I get where they are coming from but the problem we are dealing with here was one that was initiated a long time ago when people decided to plant marram grass and live close to the sea.
"Without interference I would be confident of the beach recovering naturally, but it is a long-term process and we have to be patient.
"I would advocate leaving the beach to fluctuate naturally, but people need to be patient about the recovery,'' he said.
The erosion could be visible instantly but the recovery of the coast could take "months, years and, in some cases, decades''.
The coastline had held relatively stable despite rising sea levels. However, residents were now discovering buildings and homes might have been built too close to the beach's "dynamic zone''.
"The dunes do heal. We can show examples of these type of things that have gone on for years.''
He pointed to Omaha Beach in Auckland, which eroded dramatically decades ago but had now recovered.
"My bottom line is we don't want an intervention that's designed to stop erosion when we are looking at one of these short-term changes.
"What I wouldn't advocate is an intervention that will change the natural recovery of the beach, because it might protect the dunes but it will move the erosion further along the beach.''
The St Clair sea wall was an example of such an issue, he said.
The council has committed to spending $100,000 in the coming financial year to investigate a long-term solution for the issues at Ocean Beach.
