A new management plan for Dunedin's coastal reserves - which aims to protect the sensitive areas at the expense of some recreational rights - will be considered by Dunedin city councillors today.
The council's "Coastal Dune Reserves Management Plan" would see 10 coastal reserves reclassified from recreational areas to "local purpose (coastal protection)" zones.
The proposed change reflected the need, first and foremost, to protect the sensitive areas, while allowing for recreation as a secondary use.
Among the changes to be discussed are new restrictions on private access tracks running through dunes, with existing tracks to be phased out and no new private access tracks permitted once the management plan was adopted.
Instead, the use of formal access tracks would be encouraged, the plan said.
The council was required to classify the primary use of reserves it owned under the Reserves Act 1977.
Public consultation on the management plan last year prompted 54 submissions.
A public hearing was held in April this year.
The feedback and hearing led to amendments to the draft management plan, which would be considered by councillors at today's community development committee.
The committee's decision would be forwarded to the next full council meeting, on July 5, for final approval.
A report by council reserves policy and planning officer Dolina Lee, to be considered today, identified the fate of wilding pines at Warrington Reserve as one issue to arise from the consultation.
Some submitters opposed plans to remove the trees, which was identified as a "long-term goal" under the new management plan.
They argued the trees provided shelter and protected against erosion, and their replacement with native vegetation would not be successful.
However, no change to the plan was recommended, despite the concerns.
