Save Ocean Beach

The natural and physical resources of Ocean beach and its adjacent City Dunedin are under threat and you can help!

A friend scanned and sent me this letter to the editor in todays ODT, thanks Mark :0)

After the recent spectacular wave action against the sea wall at St Clair the other week.. we now have some long black sausages emerging from inside the sand dunes at the end of the sea wall.

Below are two pics, one on the 19th December 2006 and 6 months later on the 20th May 2007 , from today's photos you can see sand has returned around the poles to an extent.

Then below, last year on the 19th February.. the steps touched the sand!


Onions and sauce with that?

Aparantly they are geotextile sand sausgaes for an 'end dune affect'.
Interesting article here
And whilst in tune with sand and St Clair the photo below is a comparison again of the sand on the beach during the end part of the old sea wall's reign, and now.
Remember the days of the old sea wall

And just to balalnce everything out, an arty shot of the well photographed poles.

Cracks showing at the top of the recently replaced steps at the pool end of the esplanade. Although the cracks are in cosmetic concrete smoothing, it shows that the force of the waves over the last week have been impacting and lifting the steps to a great degree.

I have included directly below a photo of the top of the stairs from the 16th March to show what the structure is under the cracks which are showing now. This top section of the steps are a refurbished version of the old steps that were washed away, and still show old damage around the bolts.


The ramp has been reinforced with LARGE steel girders at 4 points (photo below on right), which makes it impossible for wheelchair acess now, actually with the 4foot drop at the end of the ramp onto rocks no access to beach is possible anyway via the ramp. Picture below on right, taken 19th April, is a week after the replacement steps were installed showing the newly broken new handrail and rocky beach.

Below is an article in todays Otago Daily Times. pg5


Click on this: for readable text.

When interviewed by the Star reporter only a few points of mine were 'quoted' in the article, what was left out was my response to the council and pool patrons concerns over vandalism and privacy. They believe the fence needs to be that high as well as having the barbed wire, and that the wire may be removed if no further vandilism occurs. Fact is the fence at this boundary is probably the hardest way to get into the pool complex. Much easier acess is by straddling the small fence by the Cafe and walking over the rocks and then hopping over the other small fence you are right in the pool area.
Why, if a fence such as the one being replaced, is needed for security is there such a flimsy and easily jumped fence used for the rest of the perimiter?

Almost New Moon bought a super full tide with a strong south swell crashing in to the esplanade and shifting the last 4 grains of sand that lay against the sea wall.
The first batch of photos taken with my new Canon 30D too!!
This morning I had the second preparation meeting for our team in the 48 hour film challenge, we start on Friday night at 7pm and work through till 7pm Sunday. Challange is to write, shoot, cut and survive. a short film up to 7 mins long
click here to find out all about 48 hours.. and what I have let myself in for this weekend!





Just watched my friend Nigel on the Channel 9 news over the St Clair to Seconds fence issue.

Great that its getting some broader publicity.. but!!
Two issues that appear rather inconsistent.
One one hand Dunedin City Council representative Graham Hall said that the fence had to be a soild wooden fence in order to stop people viewing into the pool area, so a privacy issue.. but then why in the next sentence claim that the public will be allowed to utilise the view freely by an altered track and seats where [quote]"people can view over the fence" ... think about it.. defeats the purpose eh
Also Mr Hall claimed the council explored the option of using a mesh fence instead of the wooden fence... this was aparantly mooted due to the 'unsightly' corrosion that the mesh would acquire exposed to the salt laden air over time. A mesh fence is NOT the only option.. and if privacy is the premium issue, then why consider a mesh fence, or any other alternative other than solid in the first place? Why is there a mesh fence just 10 metres furthur up in the same track?.. which then incidently stops abruptly and there is NO fence at all to stop small animals. pushchairs and bicycles careering off the cliff face.
Below is a scan of the original letter Nigel Westbrook sent to the Mayor, and the Petition:


People have been wanting
to see the light, for over 100 years!!

Dont deny us again!

The last few days I have been supporting a friend in his proposal to get the building of the fence being replaced behind the Hot Salt Water Pool stopped until a more pleasing design could be implemented.
The fence was first erected in about 1905, due to the social requirements of segregated bathing times, and non-mixing of the sexes during bathing. The fence was erected to prevent the men 'perving' at the ladies. Holes were soon drilled in the fence to aid in the forbidden view, and it became a bit of a regular activity at the time (see pic below form 1906).

The fence was replaced a few times, always by an identical structure, and this time due to disrepair again its identical replacement was ordered by the DCC.
Our contention is.. why does it have to be a solid wooden fence and continue to block out such a great view?
We understand that the fence is very necessary for OSH issues, and also for the legal requirements for fencing a pool area, public or private. but could it not be designed this time to allow passing walkers and new and unique view of the City, beach and Esplanade?

above and two below is what the view could be if a vision fiendly fence was erected, the dark line sitting above the (now) freestanding gate and door represents the height of the origninal and replacement fence.

Nigel Westbrook had discussions with the mayors secretary on the 8th May, and a meeting was scheduled for 8.30am the next day (the 9th may) to discuss the matter further. At the meeting a list of names opposing the replacement solid wooden fence was presented to the Mayor Peter Chin, along with a series of demonstartion photos from me. Nigel was informed that they would consult and get back to him before work continued..
Lo and behold a visit at lunch time today the workers had been hard at work on the fence construction since the crack of dawn again, having been told to get as much work done as possible before they were forced to really stop. Pics below are the progress at noon ...


so where the story lay as of 4pm this avo, the contractors were given the go ahead (not that they stopped) to complete the fence as originally ordered, due to the fact that the fence had to be solid due to alledged ''complaints'' recieved from the pool patrons of being spied upon, an ironic twist.. given the history of the wall.
We have also been advised that a 'ramp' with viewing seats will now be erected behind the wall on the bank/cliff to allow patrons the pleasure of the view. More taxpayers money of course.

You may be pleased to know the graffiti 'lady on the fence' has been salvaged and returned to its original artist.. top marks to the contractor and council for taking care of that :0)