Ten huts on the banks of the Rangitata River in South Canterbury will be relocated due to concerns over coastal erosion.
Ten of the 81 huts on the northside of the Rangitata River are to be relocated due to fears over erosion. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Graham
The Rangitata Hut Association has asked the Ashburton District Council to sell it a portion of land next to the Rangitata campground to relocate the huts.
In total there are 81 huts based at the north side of Rangitata River mouth next to a lagoon which has a long stone bank separating it from the ocean.
The area is a popular spot for salmon fishing and whitebaiting.
The subdivision of the campground land and the sale of the land were yet to be completed, but the council agreed to the sale.
One of the owners, 81-year-old Dave Johnstone said he did not believe there was any risk to the huts from erosion, and only one or two huts were close enough to the coast line to be at any risk.
Dave Johnstone, 81, has owned one of the Rangitata River huts for 36 years. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Graham
He has owned his hut since 1981 and said he did not want to relocate his hut if there was no need to go.
In recent years large boulders have been moved to the edge of the lagoon as added protection.
Ashburton District Council commercial manager Colin Windleborn said the hut association had approached the council over concerns some huts could slip into the ocean because the coast is being eroded.
He said the move was precautionary, and so far there was no set time for when the move would happen.
The ten affected huts also sat, either wholly or partially, within the Queen's Chain.