Ōrewa Beach reserve eroded by heavy seas after a heavy night of wind and rain from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Ōrewa has been subject to erosion during storm events, with the council forced to replenish lost sand to protect properties along the beachfront for several decades, costing tens of thousands of dollars each time.
It is hoped the seawall will negate the need for continuing renourishment on the increasingly popular beach.
“It’s important to recognise this is a unique solution for a specific part of the coastline,” former board chairwoman and current board member Julia Parfitt said.
“Projects like this are extremely expensive, aren’t easy to deliver, and can’t simply be replicated elsewhere, so we need to take a site-by-site approach to managing coastal erosion.
“The local board of the day recognised the rate that erosion was occurring meant there would be no reserve land left to achieve a walking connection for all abilities.”
The $21.6 million seawall and shared pathway also includes planting, lighting, ramps, and stairs and seeks to minimise impact on existing vegetation and to protect pōhutukawa trees at threat from erosion.
The design sought to reduce the environmental footprint with locally-sourced, hand-shaped basalt for the seawall anchored with a low-carbon cement that supports performance and durability.
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