My Account
Protecting the grass reserve, private property and public access are the paramount considerations in the development of Auckland Council’s proposals for erosion protection on the northern part of Orewa Beach, but this has not gone down well with everyone.
At a meeting for invited people with an interest in the seawall proposal – including residents and representatives of organisations – coastal engineer and project director Richard Reinen-Hamill of Tonkin and Taylor emphasised that seawalls protect the grass behind the beach but do not protect the beach itself from erosion.
However, as one resident pointed out at the meeting, protecting private property and reserve land may be a luxury that future generations cannot afford, with managed retreat from the shore the only option in the face of sea level rise predictions.
A number of residents also said they were concerned about the amount of beach that could be lost if the wall is built: although the actual dimensions will not be finalised until the detailed design phase, in places the proposed seawall extends around 5m out into the beach, although 1.5m of that is buried beneath the sand.
“We are trying to strike a balance between land based access and beach access,” Mr Reinen-Hamill said.
Around 50 people attended the meeting in Orewa on November 23, asking many questions of Council staff and Mr Reinen-Hamill.
It was clear that Council is bending over backwards to make the process open and transparent, providing a detailed presentation followed by a question and answer session.
The meeting marked the start of the public consultation period and coastal management services team manager Paul Klinac said that the proposals for the 640m stretch of beach from Kohu Street to Marine View are very much a draft, with all feedback being taken into account.
Sections of grouted basalt seawall, loose rock structures and a small area of restored dunes are proposed, with a 2m–2.5m shared pedestrian and cycleway and beach access points along the top. (The full plan was revealed in HM November 4 issue).
The transfer of sand from the southern end of the beach to the north is designed as a sacrificial buffer against erosion and would be ongoing under the plan.
All the documents relevant to the proposal are at shapeauckland.co.nz. A final public open day will be held this week, on December 3, 3.30pm–5.45pm at Orewa Community Centre. Feedback remains open until December 18 and there is also the opportunity to contact Council to arrange meetings for interested groups.
Council expects to lodge a resource consent application for the work in March and will request that it is publicly notified so that people can make formal submissions.
