Kohi residents have their say

Local residents braved wintry conditions to have their say at the Kohimarama Beach Seawall Protection Project open days.

The open days, held at the Kohi Yacht Club, were an opportunity for people to view proposed changes and comment on the improvement options planned for this Auckland City beach icon.

The $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 beach 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.

Feedback from the public indicated enormous support for the project overall.

The interest of most visitors to the open days was centred upon the proposed headland structure.

An attractive, well constructed, natural looking headland was the overwhelming course of action preferred.

There was some concern voiced about the potential for the waterfront to be over run with restaurants, however there are certainly no plans for this to occur.

A three-phase program is targeting December 2004 as the completion date of the project.

The first hint of construction will commence in the winter of 2003, with the building of headlands to separate the stormwater and retain the beach long-term.

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