The Beach Is Back

Eastern Beach will soon be returned to its former glory thanks to a $700,000 sand replenishment programme due to begin next month.

During consultation for the draft long term plan last year, Manukau City Council received a large number of submissions urging the Council to save the beach from coastal erosion.

After careful consideration, the Council has decided to go ahead with the sand replenishment programme.

Manukau City Council's Parks Manager Digby Whyte says the Council recognises that Eastern Beach is one of Manukau's finest urban beaches. This project will restore the appearance of the beach and enhance its recreational value.

The Council has contracted Kaipara Limited to pump 11,000 cubic metres of sand on to the northern and middle section of the beach.

The sand will be dredged from the seabed at least three kilometres off the Pakiri coastline in Northland and then transported by barge and pumped onto Eastern Beach.

"The source of the sand was chosen because it's a good match in both grain size and colour. The coarse sand will also prevent the new sand from being washed off the beach," he says.

Auckland City used this type of sand to successfully restore Kohimarama Beach last year and Mission Bay Beach in 1996.

All resource consents have been obtained and the work is due to begin on 14 March 2005. It will take between four and five months to complete.

Late last year two of Eastern Beach's three storm water outlets were upgraded and extended.

In 1996 sand was transferred from the southern to the northern end of the beach to ease the effects of erosion. Dr Whyte says this is no longer an option as there is not enough sand left at the southern end to repeat this procedure at this time.

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