KEY POINTS:
Auckland City's beach restoration plan has taken another step forward with the resanding of Pt Chevalier Beach.
The $1.5 million project requires 16,000cu m of sand to be dredged from the outer Hauraki Gulf.
The sand is brought by barge to just off the beach and pumped in slurry form on to the shore. Diggers then distribute the sand evenly along the beach.
The project is scheduled to be completed by December 15, in time for families to enjoy the new-look beach over the summer.
Other Waitemata Harbour beaches that have been replenished include St Heliers and Kohimarama, Hamilton Rd, Sentinel Rd and Herne Bay Reserves, and Taylors Bay and Blockhouse Bay on the Manukau Harbour.
And while lessons can be learned from any project, Ruth Stokes, Auckland City's group manager of arts, community and recreation policy says that the lesson from Pt Chevalier has been particularly helpful.
"The environmental mitigation process did not require assessment of trees. This was done after the event.
"In future, the council will ask for a plan from the contractor, even though it is not required as part of the consent, so that we can protect existing trees."
Other seaside areas are likely to be named in the council's long-term planning, including Pt England, but this could be at least three years away.
BEACHES TO BE RESTORED
* Pt England Reserve
* Pt Chevalier
* Herne Bay
* Home Bay
* Sentinel Reserve
* St Heliers
* Blockhouse Bay
* Taylors Reserve
