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The long-awaited Ōrewa walkway and seawall officially opened earlier this month after last minute-delays due to remediation works, line marking and sign installation.
The project was part of Auckland Council’s $21.6 million erosion management plan for the northern end of Ōrewa beach and runs between Marine View and Kohu Street. It also features improvements to Kinloch Reserve and Remembrance Reserve with amenities such as a water fountain, access ramps and stairs to the beach.
Planning for the 600m seawall and shared pathway has faced a number of setbacks after being challenged in the Environment Court and finally granted resource consent in 2020. (Hibiscus Matters, June 3 2020) Design work began in February 2023 with construction starting in October 2024. The original completion date was pushed back to April 2026 after delays caused by the discovery of asbestos and difficult tide conditions.
However, after opening, some Ōrewa residents have raised concerns about the pathway lighting design creating a trip hazard. Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member Jake Law said this may be due to the lights needing to be installed in a certain way to avoid shining into nearby homes and the board was investigating a potential solution.
