Light clean-up on city beaches

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THE driftwood build-up on the city beaches is minimal this year as summer and the annual beach clean-up approaches.

Long-time driftwood remover Trevor Jukes believes the debris on the sand is the lightest in five to seven years.

Gisborne District Council traditionally faces substantial clean-up costs to get the stretch from The Cut through to just west of the Midway Surf Club carpark looking its best.

The council always carries out removal of driftwood and other beach debris before Labour weekend.

Jukes Carriers have carried out the beach clean-up off and on for the past 40 years.

“It’s a credit to Mother Nature this year. She is looking after us,” Mr Jukes said.

“You get cycles of it.

“It all depends on the way the tide is running in the Bay, and the wind, whether or not driftwood washes up.

“Also we have not had a huge amount of rain during winter to bring debris down the rivers.”

Community and recreational facilities team leader for the council Garrett Blair agrees there is only a minimal amount of debris on the beach.

“Mr Jukes’ comments are spot- on.

“We’re going to start the clean-up process very shortly and we will also be undertaking a feasibility study to work out a better approach to beach clean-ups in the future,” Mr Blair said.

“What is there will be scooped up and trucked along the beach to the western end and again used to protect the dunes at that end of the beach.

“Barring a major weather event, there will be substantial savings this year on the clean-up.”