In Dunedin access to parts of St Clair Beach has been washed out, including the ramp where the local Surf Life Saving Club launches its boats.
St Clair Surf Life Saving Club member Graeme Newton told Newshub: "There's no access to St Clair Beach to launch an IRB [inflatable rescue boat] for rescue purposes."
Sand sausages are completely exposed and precious sand has vanished from the ramp.
Newton said it's too cold for people to hit the water in winter, but in summer surfers and swimmers swarm to the iconic beach.
"Once the weather warms up and if nothing is done then we won't be able to patrol this beach - it'll be impossible."
Access by foot has been cut off to sand dunes and the sausages there to protect them have been washed away over the past week.
"There's metres of dune just missing," Newton told Newshub.
Offshore just one of the famous 120-year-old poles which made up a groyne or sea wall remains standing.
Over the next two weeks, contractors will rebuild access and repair the damage.
Some locals are worried the council is too focused on other projects like cycleways and the upgrade of George Street.
"Those things are valuable for a city but if the city doesn't have a wall to protect itself we won't have a city," a Dunedin local said.
A coastal plan to protect St Clair and St Kilda Beach was adopted earlier this year.
Dunedin City Council said in a statement: "A range of projects are either underway or set to begin later this year."
This includes "improved beach access, removal of contaminated material", and "further consideration of coastal protection structures".
But locals don't think it's happening fast enough.
"Council has declared a climate emergency so I would like to see some emergency action done with this coastal erosion," one local resident said.
To keep the jewel in Dunedin's coastal crown accessible to everyone.
