Media Release: Thursday 26 July 2018

Horowhenua District Council is set to begin work lowering the dunes near the Beach Entrance Car Park in Foxton Beach.

Council Parks and Property Project Lead Zane Bull said the dunes to the rear and sides of the car park have been accumulating for a number of years and were now causing safety concerns.

“Pedestrians have to walk in the middle of the road to gain access to the beach and car park. Lowering the dunes near the entrance way will make the area safer for pedestrians and drivers alike,” he said.

“In addition, lowering the dunes will address sight-line issues at this popular beach.”

Mr Bull said the project will include replacing the existing exotic vegetation growing on the dunes with native spinifex, reshaping and lowering the dunes to a height of around two to three metres on both sides of the beach entrance and along the walkway, and transporting clean sand to the foreshore dunes.

A technical report completed in 2006 showed that the height of the dunes could be reduced without significantly increasing sand blow into facing properties.

Mulch will be applied to further reduce sand blow and improve water retention and root development of the native spinifex grass to be planted, Mr Bull said.

“Spinifex is an indigenous plant that has been very effective in stabilising foreshore dunes at Foxton Beach and Waitārere Beach. Once established, it will help to keep the dunes at a consistent height in the future.”

The work is the result of a submission made by the Foxton Community Board on Council’s Long Term Plan 2018-2038, which cited safety concerns and asked Council to reduce the height of the dunes.

Work is scheduled to begin on Monday 13 August and is expected to be complete by Thursday 30 August 2018.

ENDS

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