Omaha Beach - Estuary Seawall

The repair and upgrade of the Omaha estuary seawall was identified through the Omaha Coastal Compartment Management Plan (CCMP), adopted by Rodney District Council in 2003, as a significant item of work requiring attention.

The seawall extends along the eastern side of the estuary from Broadlands Drive and currently consists of approximately 1100 metres of failing asbestos sheeting and adhoc tipped rock, leading into 700 metres of gabion baskets to the north. The asbestos wall was constructed around the late 1970's as part of the original development of the spit and golf course. The wall appears from historical photography to have been placed around wetland areas so they could be partially reclaimed for the golf course.

The gabion baskets appear to have been placed at a later date as part of the development of the northern spit area. The gabion baskets themselves are undergoing gradual corrosion of the wire cages and have also been identified by Council as requiring major upgrade in the next 5-10 years.

The CCMP determined that the Council should formally adopt a comprehensive plan for the wall that could be implemented incrementally as sections of the wall failed and associated funding allowed.

A draft comprehensive plan has been completed with a staged implementation indicated. In summary, the plan is to use a combination of re-nourishment and re-establishment of wetlands through the provision of bunds of stabilised beach sediment in the inter-tidal area. The solutions are relatively innovative and there is a measure of trial about the first stage of wall replacement between the causeway and the 16th tee block.

The plan has been taken through pre-consultation with the community and interest groups. It has also been presented to the Omaha Beach Golf Club, Omaha Beach Community Inc., Whangateau Harbour Care and informally with both the Department of Conservation and the Auckland Regional Council. Generally, response to date has been unreservedly positive. Concern has been voiced over the source of sediment for re-nourishment and stabilised bund construction.

Having obtained good feedback and positive response in consultation the project is moving to Resource Consent stage with the first stage out to formal consultation by October 2006. Consent will then be lodged in November/December 2006. Funding for the installation of Stage 1 ($50,000) is allocated for the 2006/2007 Annual Plan with $103,000 allocated for the year ended 30 June 2008.

Information provided by Paul Klinac, Coastal Service Delivery Engineer, Rodney District Council.
13 September 2006.

Estuary Seawall Reconstruction [May 2007]

Rodney District Council has lodged a Resource Consent to upgrade the seawall on Mangatawhiri Spit, Omaha Beach. The works will include the construction of 395 metres of sand-crete seawalls, placing of 1120 cubic metres of sand on the foreshore, and the planting of indigenous coastal vegetation. The section of the seawall being targetted is at the southern end of a 1.8 kilometre seawall, which runs along the golf course and reserve on the Whangateau Harbour side of the spit. The section is constructed of rip-rap, and fibrolite, and some asbestos. A summary of the application can be viewed on the council website www.rodney.govt.nz or at council offices. [Acknowledgement to Local Matters]