Sea wall planned to save popular beach

Teenager Kade Morgan jumps off sand banks that were eroded by storm tides at Orewa Beach. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Orewa’s sandy stretch at constant risk of erosion from big storms.

A sea wall is to be built at one of Auckland's most popular beaches in a $5 million plan to try to stop storms ripping out chunks of its grassy park and currents carrying away its sand.

Orewa Beach, 30km north of the CBD, has a mild slope and mostly gentle waves, making it a favourite with families.

But in severe storms, waves of up to 3.4m have gnawed away at an all-tide dry walkway in the northern part of its 2.6km length.

Although praised for its natural beauty, the beach is sculpted by regular "sand nourishment".

Earthmoving machinery returns sand to the northern part of the beach that has been swept by currents to the southern end. Giving the beach this buffer of sand costs $50,000 to $80,000 a year.

Since the pounding September 2013 storm, the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board has had engineers and coastal experts working on options for preserving the esplanade reserve, which provides not only public access but also car access to private homes.

Last week, the board endorsed a Tonkin & Taylor Consultants' draft design for protecting a 600m area between Kohu St and Marine View Parade, near the town centre.

Board chairwoman Julia Parfitt said this area had first claim in the wider erosion works plan.

The damaged walkway would be rebuilt to 2m wide on top of a sea wall. Work included public accessways to and from the beach.

The board had yet to secure $4.5-$5 million for spending over two years on top of $347,000 for design.

"We are hopeful of approval because it is a beach of regional significance and the work has to be done.

"Doing nothing is what we have done for three years and erosion is increasing further into the reserve land, which is so well used.

Mrs Parfitt said the board was advised to look at a comprehensive scheme for the whole beach and to give it different treatment according to what worked best.

Save Orewa Beach Trust chairman Ian Inglis said residents believed that a "hard engineering" solution was not as cost-effective and as pleasing to the eye as the regular transfer of sand.

"It's nice to be able to walk off grass on to sand - it's the New Zealand experience without rocks in between."

The move was welcomed by Destination Orewa Beach operations manager Helen Wilkins.

"It's a family-oriented beach and its maintenance is vital."

She said the beach drew residents and visitors for kite surfing and paddle boarding as well as for its 7.5km estuary cycleway and Millennium Walkway.

With the crowding problem at North Shore's Long Bay Regional Park, Orewa Beach was a popular alternative and visitors arrived by the busloads. This added to the town's vibrancy and was welcomed by its 95 tourism-related businesses.

Summer revenue gain on the previous month was 6 per cent last December, 13 per cent in January 2015 and 5 per cent in February.