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Publicity for Boathouse Bay says the development embraces the “true meaning of beachside”, but critics say it’s too close to the ocean.
The developer of a string of coastal properties at the northern end of Snells Beach has fiercely defended the development in the wake of a barrage of criticism on social media and a suggestion that the new houses could end up in the sea.
Snells Beach Ratepayers & Residents Association chair Mark Dinniss last month drew attention on the Sandspit, Snells, Algies & Mahurangi East Facebook page to the fact that the Boathouse Bay developer had been served with an Auckland Council abatement notice, demanding that a dune designed to provide a buffer against “coastal hazards” be rebuilt as originally consented.
“At the moment it is only about six metres wide, where it should be nine metres wide with a swale or hump or hollow in it,” Mr Dinniss wrote.
Speaking to Mahurangi Matters, Mr Dinniss said he was concerned for new residents living at
Boathouse Bay because there was no way the dune structure would last. It was already eroding and it was the view of many that the new houses would end up in the sea.
“The new residents there are going to be ratepayers and residents of Snells Beach. Anything that leaves them in a hazardous situation is a concern of ours,” he said.
Mr Dinniss also drew attention to the fact the dune had been planted with a South Island species of spinifex and the abatement notice required that it be replanted with the approved North Island species.
Mr Dinniss further slammed the development for effectively eliminating a roosting area for native birds around the high-water mark.
But developer Avant Group has hit back, saying the concerns are unfounded.
Avant development manager Mat Peters said it was disappointing that Mr Dinniss has not once attempted to talk to Avant to understand its motivations.
“I would have thought that the chairman of the residents and ratepayers association would have taken a more responsible and representative attitude, and approached us directly in a more inclusive process with his concerns, prior to taking to social media and dividing the community he is elected to lead,” he said.
“Some of our purchasers have been berated on the beach for purchasing in the development, which is sad indeed.”
Mr Peters said Boathouse Bay was designed under the guidance of Jim Dahm – one of New Zealand’s leading coastal specialists – and the engineering of the site was subject to strong scrutiny from Council engineers.
“The design took into account anticipated sea level rise over the next 150 years,” he said.
Mr Peters said that Snells Beach had a natural erosion cycle of 20 to 30 years. Periods of erosion were followed by periods of recovery where sand was deposited along the beach. During these recovery periods, the shoreline advanced seaward and the dune would actually grow.
Regarding the abatement notice, Mr Peters said in the developer’s consent application it was always flagged that final design would be subject to the physical conditions at the time of construction. The foreshore changed between the time the dune was consented and the time it was formed, and the design was modified under Jim Dahm’s instructions.
He said Avant ordered the appropriate species of spinifex, but these died in the nursery prior to being planted. Jim Dahm advised to urgently plant the dune regardless of the plant source to stabilise it.
Plants were then sourced in Nelson. These thrived and provided “a perfect nesting area” for dotterels.
Nevertheless, Mr Peters said Council had asked that the spinifex be replaced with “eco-sourced plants”.
He said Council officers did not contest Jim Dahm’s advice they can only approve a dune that was built in accordance with consented plans, hence the issuing of an abatement notice.
With respect to birdlife, Mr Peters said Avant had planted 5000 native trees at the back of the development to secure protection for birdlife, the development had an ongoing programme to eliminate bird predators and residents were forbidden from owning cats.
Mr Peters said Avant planned to hold a meeting for local residents with specialist advisors present so they could be informed by qualified people.
Meanwhile, Auckland Council manager of compliance monitoring Richard Preece confirmed Council issued an abatement notice on May 8, requiring further work on dune contours and for the existing planting to be replaced.
“The compliance unit is working with the contractor to ensure that the work is completed to the approved plan in a suitable timeframe,” he said.
