MEDIA RELEASE

25 October 2002

The beach is back

A $6 million dollar project given the green light from Auckland City Council will see the sand return to Kohimarama Beach.

Like the Mission Bay exercise, thousands of tonnes of sand will be required to return this Auckland City icon back to its pristine best. Disruption to traffic along Tamaki Drive is unlikely as it is anticipated all sand will be moved via a sea route and pumped ashore.

Up to 60 000 cubic metres of sand is required to ensure that beach goers have recreation space at all tides, and that the seawall’s protection is guaranteed.

Auckland City Councillor Scott Milne says: “We will be replenishing one of Auckland’s most precious jewels and the wonderful thing is that everybody will share in the benefits”.

Redesigning creek and stormwater outfalls, so their discharges are removed from the beach area, are also envisaged as part of the project.

A coastal engineering study conducted by Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd Engineering consultants, which addresses all of the technical issues, concluded that the construction will provide a stable and much enhanced amenity.

Detailed design and the necessary consent applications will now proceed, with a three phase program working towards the target date for completion of the project being no later than December 2004.

The first hint of construction will be the headlands and boat ramp in the winter of 2003.

ENDS

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