PHOTO: ODT FILESSeveral animal species have made Oamaru’s breakwater their home since it was closed to the public. The Waitaki District Council was forced to close the breakwater, when it learnt 18 months ago it was in breach of its consent for the breakwater if it allowed public access to the 1872 Heritage New Zealand category 1 structure. Doc coastal Otago operations manager Craig Wilson said it was focused on ensuring the ecologically significant wildlife, including threatened and at risk species were not disturbed. "Doc’s focus is on ensuring that the significant wildlife that uses the breakwater and is highly valued by locals and tourists is safe and undisturbed, rather than whether the breakwater is open to the public," Mr Wilson said. He declined to comment further as Doc was providing information to the council for its resource consent process to allow public access to the breakwater.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 29, 2021 15:32 UTC