Researcher finds debris adding to coastal erosion

• Published date: 25 May 2023
• Publication title: Southland Express

Researcher Cassie Newman mapped the dynamics of the Southland coast with human-related debris using historic satellite images and drone techniques while writing her Masters thesis

Over her five years studying at AUT, she focused on historic and seasonal patterns of erosion across four locations in southland — Monkey Island, Colac Bay, Fortrose, and Porpoise Bay.

During this time, Ms Newman spent a summer interning at Environment Southland and noticed through her work and time surfing in the region there was a lot of human debris contributing to erosion of the coastline.

‘‘At Colac Bay where I surfed a lot, the coastal road to be closed because of erosion — and there’s a landfill right behind it, which feels like a very urgent thing.’’

Without mitigating actions, the erosion could potentially approach the landfill behind the road, leaching into the bay and causing issues for local marine life and the environment.

‘‘There were some quite obvious changes happening there and at other beaches.’’

She said three of the sites bordered marine animal sanctuaries, while Colac Bay had a notable Hector’s dolphin population.

‘‘The marine life is quite diverse, and there’s a lot of it... I’m worried about the leachate from the Colac Bay landfill, so whether you wait...