Torpedo Bay seawall to be rebuilt

Nearly 100 metres of the seawall along the eastern end of King Edward Pde at Torpedo Bay in Devonport is to be rebuilt.

North Shore City Council works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, says the existing wall is near the end of its life, as wave action and high tides have undermined parts of the foundation.

"If the wall fails, wave action could severely damage the road and footpath, and the wall should be rebuilt as soon as possible," Councillor Cayford says.

"Initially five different options were considered but this has now been narrowed down to two.

"Our preferred option is for a sloping wall with a stone facing, as this will reduce the effect of reflected waves by 10 to 20 per cent and, to some extent, will keep the sand in the bay. Our Devonport Community Board is investigating other sand replenishment measures as a separate project.

"The preferred wall option features a handrail and concrete up-stand to reduce overtopping. It may be possible to incorporate these features into the top portion of the wall in a way that minimises their visual impact on the adjacent properties. We welcome feedback from local residents on this detail.

"The other option is based on a near vertical wall. It is similar to the existing seawall and does not encroach into the harbour as much as the sloping wall option," Councillor Cayford says.

"Plans and drawings of the two options will be displayed in our Devonport Library and we're inviting local people to give us feedback on the proposal and any concerns they may have," he says.

Within this financial year, the North Shore City Council intends to complete detailed investigation and design for the replacement wall, and apply to the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) for resource consents. The planning work should be completed by July 2004, and it is hoped that construction can be completed over the 2004/05 summer, depending on funding.

The cost is expected to be in the region of $300,000, and part of the cost will be subsidised by Transfund New Zealand (the government road funding agency).

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