A revised plan to repair erosion damage at Cockle Bay is the result of input from local residents who are concerned about wave reflection and sand loss at the popular beach.
Howick Local Board will fund $250,000 for the urgent works needed after a storm, combined with king tides, wreaked havoc on the coastline in January.
Engineers had recommended extending the seawall but revised the plan after meeting with the local board and residents.
“Residents were concerned that extending the vertical sea wall would actually cause more wave reflection and lead to sand loss,” says Auckland Council’s Head of Operational Management and Maintenance, Agnes McCormick.
“We now plan to enhance the existing wall and retain the temporary rock structure we put in place in January. Sand from the eastern end of the beach will be transferred to the area to restore public access and the look of the beach.”
Howick Local Board Chair David Collings understands the locals’ concerns and says it is great that council’s community facilities and coastal erosion teams have been able to address these.
“Urgent temporary repairs were made in January but if we get another bout of weather like that there could be real problems.
“We're pleased that, after some delay, we're now able to get this addressed, have it fit in with community expectations and ensure it comes in under the original budget.”
The local board has long maintained and advocated for a regional fund to manage coastal erosion but with no regional funding available, it has agreed to fund this work due to the urgency.
At its meeting this week the board also noted that work at Mellons Bay Beach, which was also extensively damaged in the storm, will be funded out of a regional community facilities budget and were given an update on plans for Eastern and Bucklands Beach beaches.
A copy of the full report is available here (see item 16).
