Orewa shoring up its sand defences

Heavy machines are moving 5000cu m of sand from the southern end of Orewa Beach to its eroded mid-section. Picture / Brett Phibbs

One of Auckland's most popular beaches has been washing away since boulders placed there to prevent erosion were removed.

Orewa Beach was undergoing extensive work yesterday after a storm at the beginning of this month contributed to ongoing sand erosion.

At a cost of $12,000 to Rodney District Council ratepayers, 5000cu m of sand has been moved from the southern end of the beach to the middle section, where there is a ragged 1.5m drop from the grass to the beach below.

Large rocks used to sit on the sand in an attempt to protect reclaimed land, but the Rodney District Council removed them in July.

RDC spokesman Mike Isle said the rocks were no longer effective in protecting the beach, and were "an eyesore and a safety hazard".

But the large amount of sand washed away in the recent storm forced the council to move forward plans to replenish the mid-section of the beach from the end of next month.

Mr Isle said the weather would determine how long the shifted sand remained on the beach before being washed away. It was expected to last at least two years.

Erosion is a common problem on Auckland beaches, and replenishment programmes like the one at Orewa have been carried out at Kohimarama, Mission Bay and St Heliers.

The council considered building a seawall but Mr Isle said it would be "really intrusive, spoil the look of the beach" and cost considerably more.

Orewa Beach Reef Charitable Trust chairman Zane Taylor said replenishment was only a short-term option.

Building an artificial reef was the long-term solution to erosion.

Mr Taylor said the trust was working with the council towards obtaining resource consent for a reef, which would help to retain sand as well as redirecting water flows to work against erosion.

"An artificial reef mimics nature ... It gets into the system as opposed to just being a sticking plaster on the beach," he said.

The reef would also be a "tourism anchor" providing facilities for water sports such as surfing and ensuring that people continued to flock to Orewa Beach for holidays. The Hibiscus Coast area attracts an additional 15,000 people over the summer period.

Visitors and residents watching the works yesterday said they were pleased the council was doing something to look after the beach.