Allied Media understands access to Scott’s Beach, in the heart of Lake Hāwea township, is to be restricted for up to five years as part of Contact’s plan to deal with erosion of the Flora Dora Cliffs.
Guardians of Lake Hāwea chairman Dave Currie said slips had made the site dangerous and people needed to stay away from the beach under the cliffs.
‘‘I think the trails above the cliffs can be utilised, but the amenity value for the community along the base of the cliffs will be compromised, no doubt.
‘‘The community won’t be thrilled and there are people that are a bit grumpy that an area they used to walk won’t be available,’’ Mr Currie said.
While Mr Currie was positive about the solution proposed by Contact, he was disappointed about the energy provider’s inaction in preventing the damage in the first place.
Under the terms of its water permit which allows the company to generate hydroelectric power from the lake, it bears responsibility for avoiding and mitigating erosion of Lake Hāwea and it is supposed to prepare, maintain and implement an erosion management plan.
Mr Currie said that Contact produced an erosion management plan in December 2024 with a number of options on how infrastructure would be protected.
‘‘Over the last few years, we’ve been disappointed with the attention paid to the erosion of the cliffs.
‘‘They’ve continued to deteriorate, but the combination of bad weather and the lake being held at 346m for an extended period of time has accelerated it,’’ Mr Currie said.
Otago Regional Council compliance manager Simon Wilson said the council was ‘‘currently investigating whether any resource consent breaches have occurred,’’ and it ‘‘could not comment on any potential enforcement while an investigation is under way’’.
Allied Media understands under Contact’s plan to mitigate further erosion of the cliffs, a planning and engagement phase would take place throughout the 2026 and 2027 financial years, with physical works expected to be begin in the 2028 financial year.
About 600m of shoreline potentially requires remediation, with Contact Energy planning to address 200m per season during the winter when lake levels are low.
Sections of Scott’s Beach are likely to be unsafe for the public until the end of winter 2030.
Land Information New Zealand, the agency responsible for public safety on the beach under the cliffs, said it had installed signage at the base of the cliff to warn visitors of the ongoing hazard and advised the public to avoid entering areas marked by signs.
Contact Energy’s head of hydro generation Boyd Brinsdon said that the company’s immediate priority was public safety and that there ‘‘remains a risk of falling rocks and further landslips in the area’’.
Mr Brinsdon went on to say that the energy retailer was progressing plans for long-term erosion mitigation and it was a high priority for the business.
