Recreational activities on earthquake-affected beaches in Marlborough : summary results from an online survey of public perceptions

At least 20 diverse recreational activities are valued by the public on beaches in the earthquake-affected area. Some are incompatible with others leading to potential conflicts between interest groups. Many survey respondents reported a lengthy association with the area indicative of a depth of local knowledge and involvement with recreational activities and the wider environment of the coast. Although important locations are scattered throughout the study area, there is some evidence for heightened interest around commonly-used access points for activities such as physical exercise and fishing. Positive aspects of recreational activities in the area include benefits associated with being in a wild and natural environment, wildlife encounters, other mental or physical health benefits, fishing & food harvesting benefits, and valued family time. A diverse set of negative aspects were identified several of which are contradictory to others and involve topics such as vehicle use, fishing pressure, and aversion to particular activities. This highlights a need for conflict resolution in finding workable solutions. Although a wide range of suggested interventions were identified in survey responses, several of these are largely incompatible with others in keeping with the wide divergence of views on positive and negative aspects. Despite this, several classes of ideas may be identified which either seek, or make suggestions for arrangements that could address diverse values and preferences in compatible ways. They include improving the knowledge of human impacts on the coast, and two different though complementary spatial planning approaches involving the establishment of designated routes and / or exclusion zones to reduce impacts by design. Considerations along these lines could also potentially encompass more specific suggestions involving preferential access modes, or the need for improvement of recreational access arrangements at specific sites