Baches consultation drawing to a close

Time is running out to have your say on the future of 45 privately owned baches on public land at Taylors Mistake, Hobsons Bay and Boulder Bay.

Public consultation on a proposal for licensing some of the baches ends on Monday 14 January.

Some of the baches at Taylors Mistake.

Baches have been a feature of the landscape at Taylors Mistake, Hobsons Bay and Boulder Bay for more than 120 years. They occupy a strip of land along the coast designated as public road reserve, which allows public access to the land.

Christchurch City Council has spent the last year taking a fresh look at the future of the baches and has come up with a proposal for licensing some of them.

Under the proposal the Council would offer a 35-year licence for baches with heritage value, except where there is moderate to high risk from natural hazards. This would apply to baches noted in the District Plan as heritage items and to baches that meet the criteria.

Owners of those baches would be able to use them for temporary holiday accommodation.

Of the remaining baches, where no licence is offered, some owners will be eligible to move their bach to a privately owned parcel of land at Taylors Mistake. If not eligible, their bach will need to be demolished (subject to resource consent, if it is a listed heritage item in the District Plan).

Council staff will be running a drop-in session at the Taylors Mistake Surf Lifesaving Club between 1 and 3pm on Tuesday 8 January to answer people’s questions about the proposal.

Submissions can be made online via Have Your Say.