The council is planning dune restoration works at Muriwai Regional Park, home to one of Auckland's most popular West Coast beaches.
The work, which is planned to start in Autumn 2016, is part of the ongoing Regional Park Management Plan for Muriwai.
“Muriwai is one of Auckland’s most popular West Coast beaches, sitting in Muriwai Regional Park,” says the council's Parks, Recreation and Sports Committee Chair, Councillor Christine Fletcher.
The regional park attracts more than a million visitors a year.
“Aside from the efforts of the council, hundreds of local school children and other community volunteers have contributed to plantings in the dunes and are expected to take a keen interest in this restoration proposal,” she says.
Regional Parks Principal Ranger West, Stephen Bell, says the council has had a plan in place since 2006 to protect and retain the natural character of the beach while protecting it from erosion and improving public access.
“In 2009 we began with the realignment of the carpark and grading back of the fronting dune; now we’re ready to undertake further reshaping between the southern car park and the surf tower.”
The dunes are currently poorly vegetated with weeds colonising the area. This is causing over-steepening of the dunes, making them less resilient to storm events, resulting in cliffing and erosion. This process is also exposing debris material in the face of the dune, the removal of which is a high priority to restore this section of the beach to its natural state.
It is proposed to remove any exposed material along with rubbish debris, any dead and non-native vegetation from the dune crest and face. The dune will then be reshaped and replanted with native vegetation to re-stabilise the dune face.
“The project will improve the visual aesthetics of the southern end of Muriwai beach by restoring a more consistent dune height and slope between the southern car park and the surf tower,” says Stephen Bell.
The proposed reproofing of the dunes will improve the amenity of the area by improving access along the beach front at high tide. The native biodiversity of the area will be enhanced through weed control and native dune replanting.
Pedestrian access is also being considered through the dunes at the old surf club site to the beach.
