Inventory of coastal areas of local or regional significance in the ...

Komene Road Beach
Number: 36 GPS: 2581092E
6224533N
General description
The Stony River (Hangatahua) is the most undisturbed river in the region. Large sand
deposits from the river form the beach, which changes constantly due to storms. A large area
of sand dunes is located to the south of the river mouth, which is almost devoid of
vegetation. A regionally significant wetland Komene Lagoon is located at the back of the
dunes. The dune lake dries up in the summer months. 6, 4 The area is popular for surfing.
Location
5 km west of Okato.
Land tenure
Site: - Crown Land: Foreshore (administered by the Department of
Conservation)
Site access: - District Land: Komene Road, unformed Komene Road , and unformed
Coast Road (administered and vested in the New Plymouth
District Council)
- Private Land: No formal access
Values
Amenity High - regionally important amenity values 1 , and a regionally
significant landscape 3
Recreational High - surf breaks along entire length of beach
Cultural/
Historical
Ecological/
Scientific
- popular for fishing and walking, but access limits use
High - cooking site, kainga, and many Pa sites 3
- two shipwrecks offshore, the ‘Marchioness’ (1864) and the
‘Ottawa’ (1877)
High - area important for rare and threatened bird species (such as
golden plover, sharp-tailed sand piper and wrybill)
- breeding location of New Zealand Dotteral and Banded
Dotteral
- sanddunes and a regionally significant wetland – Komene
lagoon 6
- significant natural area 3
- priority water body 3
Public access
Poor - Komene Road ends approximately 300 m prior to the coast with the unformed
section ends approximately 100 m prior to the coast. Between the end of the
unformed road and the foreshore is privately owned land. Access from the
end of formed Komene Road is via a walking track roughly following the
unformed section of Komene Road to the coast, the land owners approval is
required to cross private land.
86
4, 6