Auckland Council publicly notified its proposal to build a seawall on Orewa Beach between Kohu Street and Marine View recently (HM April 1).
This means the public can have a say on the details of what has finally been proposed after a long period of informal consultation last year.
The consent application was lodged on December 23 and more information was sought before the resource consent team were able to notify it.
The proposed construction involves building a seawall approximately 600m long, with a footpath and landscaping on the public reserve on top of the wall, access ramps and stairs.
Kinloch Reserve in particular will be affected, with works there including the replacement of the footbridge, relocation of the watermain, construction of a timber groyne at the mouth of the channel and naturalisation of the dune. Two pohutukawas in the reserve are to be removed under the proposal.
It is also proposed to store construction materials in Victor Eaves Park while the work is underway.
The estimated cost of building this section of seawall is $6m (over three years). Council estimates it will cost around $50,000 a year to maintain the wall.
Funding to build the wall will be based on where Orewa sits in terms of Council’s coastal work priorities. Council’s principal project manager, Ian Murray, says that the seawall and walkway is a key priority. “Funding allocation will be considered following the outcome of the resource consent process,” he says.
Submissions close at 5pm on May 12. Written submissions can be sent to Auckland Council, Private Bag 92300, Auckland, 1142 or made online at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz (look for publicly notified resource consents).
