13 April 2005

Seven-year $7.7 million re-sanding programme approved for Auckland beaches

Eight Auckland beaches are set to receive a makeover after Auckland City’s Transport and Urban Linkages Committee today approved a revised seven-year, $7.74 million re-sanding programme.

In June 2004, a five-year, $5.3 million programme was approved, subject to coastal engineering studies. The coastal engineering consultants have concluded that, due to the requirement of additional structures, stormwater diversions and sand volume, a further $2.44 million is needed to achieve the work on the eight beaches.

The selected beaches are St Heliers, Point Chevalier, Point England, Blockhouse Bay, Taylor’s Reserve, Herne Bay, Sentinel Reserve and Hamilton Reserve. St Heliers is the highest priority.

The beaches are all popular recreation areas and many present infrastructure concerns such as stormwater diversions. The replenishment programme will provide an effective strategy for preventing coastal erosion, protecting infrastructure and restoring valuable recreation space.

“The Mission Bay and Kohimarama re-sanding projects are proving extremely successful on many levels. The sand is protecting valuable roading infrastructure and has improved the way stormwater is managed in the area. It is also providing some much loved recreation space for Aucklanders,” says Councillor Richard Simpson, chairperson of the Transport and Urban Linkages Committee.

“We are keen to apply the same treatment to our other beaches that are most at risk from coastal erosion. It will help to conserve these assets long-term,” he says.

Auckland City officers are investigating alternative funding options.

ENDS

© Scoop Media