The famous arch at Cathedral Cove. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
The decision to close tracks down to Coromandel's Cathedral Cove was a difficult one, the Department of Conservation says.
An independent report by Tonkin + Taylor, after extreme weather events in January and February, confirmed the risk of potentially harmful rocks and landslides falling at the cove and adjacent bays and tracks.
DOC Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki regional director Tinaka Mearns said after reviewing the report and DOC's own visitor safety framework and measures, they concluded there would be an increased risk of injury or fatality.
"Across the 3.8km of tracks around Cathedral Cove and the adjacent bays, 180 historical or recent landslides were identified.
"Beach cliffs, including those overlooking Cathedral Cove were described as 'particularly hazardous' due to ongoing landslides and rockfall."
Landslides washed away sections of the main track down to Cathedral Cove, and the report signalled more of the same kind of damage could emerge.
DOC's Visitor Safety Team said the associated risk was at the top end of the scale DOC could manage for the type of day-trip visitors who go to Cathedral Cove.
With no "quick fixes" available for other compromised tracks in the area, DOC said it would not open walking routes to the beach this summer.
"It's been a incredibly hard decision to make [with] many variables in place, but when we think about the type of visitor that goes to Cathedral Cove and the level of risk that they are willing to accept, it really puts us outside of the comfort zone," Mearns said.
A slip blocking access to Cathedral Cove earlier this year. Photo: RNZ/Matthew Theunissen
While walking tracks were closed, visitors will be able to return to the iconic landmark via the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve, which will open in the next few weeks.
"Renewing access to Cathedral Cove from the sea allows people to go there - but we want to make very clear there is still risk associated with going to this site and people need to inform themselves properly before visiting," Mearns said.
"There is still potential for rockfall landslides at these sites, and we need to emphasise this to the public. You go at your own risk."
There were warnings for the cove's famous arch as well.
Debris fell from the arch to the sand below between 12-13 August and visitors were being urged not to go through it, said DOC.
DOC said it was decommissioning the toilet block at Cathedral Cove beach and visitor numbers would be monitored by DOC's Coromandel District team.
"We need to make sensible long-term investments at this site, rather than spend money on short-term solutions which are not sustainable and will not withstand the increasing extreme weather events caused by climate change," Mearns said.
Ngāti Hei, the local iwi to which Cathedral Cove is a significant site, is set to lift its rāhui over the area, which was put in place to protect visitor safety after last summer's extreme weather events.
