GRANITY is on the West Coast of the South Island.
Reported on Campbell Live on:
Mon, 24 Jul 2006 08:00p.m.
link source

"With three and a half metres of land being claimed by rising seas each year, the residents of Granity on the West Coast fear their homes are under threat. NIWA says nearly a third of our entire coastline is in danger of erosion.

So how can we preserve what we've got?"

We have just received the video and narration from David l. Schultz, P.E (Professional Engineer) who lives in America. He has extensively studied the benefits and effects of Holmberg Technologies; Undercurrent Stabilisers for shoreline protection.
The video explains more about the effects on the shoreline with the use of vertical sea walls, groins and rock revetments.

Ocean Beach Feedback Form - please provide details Submissions close at noon on 29 February 2008

This is not a submission on a resource consent application.

The purpose is to get feedback on the proposed data collection.

Your Name and Address Fields are required and must be provided.

(( words in brackets are intended as a guide ))

FEEDBACK

We/I agree disagree (please choose) with the proposed data collection for the following reasons:

( the data collection referred to here is listed in this link. I feel its hard to choose either agree or disagree here as there are many differing options. Many studies have been conducted in the past, but no ultimate 'all encompassing' comprehensive studies. Despite the fact that an ultimate study of the Ocean Beach area has been requested repeatedy since 1908. )

We/I would like the following data to be collected:

( here is where you suggest further data that in your opinion needs to be collected to guarantee an all encompassing/comprehensive study which will enable a sucessful anaylysis of erosion management options. Not many of us are qualified geomorpholigists/coastal engineers, so good luck.)

We/I suggest the following could assist the Council: (please include name, area of expertise and contact details)

(here you suggest any other information you may have from observation or experience of the Sea and Wave action in a historical perspective. AND also suggest any alternative erosion management options. Personally I support Holmberg Technologies and their undercurrent stabilisers as an option for investigation by the council) .

		We/I value the following about the Ocean Beach area:

(basically here add what you value, eg: wide sandy beach, natural dune system, walkways public access, the quality of the surf waves and any values assets you appreciate about the area)

Any additional comments:

(any other issues you wish to bring up eg: fears, legislation, cost, global warming etc)

We/I would like would not like (please choose) the opportunity to speak verbally to the Panel considering this information.

(hearings will be held through March 2008, don't be shy)

The Panel can can not (please choose) contact me if it has any questions in relation to this feedback form.

(your choice)

SUBMIT

Points to consider:
1. funding has already been approved in January for the proposed data collection.. this is around $300,000 ..
2. Under the Resource management Act the Councils have guidelines as to what is required for public access and amenity value for the reserve area. Also in the NZ Coastal Policy Statement.

Storms Have Further Eroded Parts Of Ocean Beach
From Channel 9 Website - February 20, 2008 - 8:57pm
source link
"Storms at the weekend have further eroded parts of Ocean Beach, an area previously troubled by high seas and storm damage.

The rough weather has exposed more than 20 meters of the sand sausages, which were placed on the beach last year after storms caused substantial erosion.
The DCC says contractors are once again replacing sand which has been washed away.
The council says the large sea swell the coast has been experiencing will ease this week."

Above: Thursday at low tide, truck loads of sand await placement, with the newly repaired and extended steps in the foreground.

Above: wave refraction off the rip rap at the base of the wall closer to the Salt Water Pool, assisted in the agitation and suspension of sand, which was carried off to deeper water.

Above: Steep dune faces are showing new growth of vegetation, in the distance a digger awaits the return of the T-Rex truck to transport another load of sand to the freshly eroded dunes between the sea wall and and the poles.

At (I heard) $10,000 a day for sand replenishment, this is going to be a steep ongoing cost for us ratepayers for the next 4 years until the council decides on a long term 'solution'. A yearly 'holding pattern' budget of between $295,000 and $325,000 a year over this time went up for approval in January for the 2008-9 funding round.

Above: Sand replenished over the exposed rocks immediately adjacent to the end of the sea wall after storms over the weekend.

Above: Monday this week, after the weekend storm ate into the replenished sand placed to protect the damaged sand sausages.

Above: a few weeks back on the 5th Feb, after a couple of solid east swells had naturally replenished and raised the beach profile at St Clair.

Storms Have Further Eroded Parts Of Ocean Beach

February 20, 2008 - 8:57pm Channel 9 local news story

Storms at the weekend have further eroded parts of Ocean Beach, an area previously troubled by high seas and storm damage.
The rough weather has exposed more than 20 meters of the sand sausages, which were placed on the beach last year after storms caused substantial erosion.
The DCC says contractors are once again replacing sand which has been washed away.
The council says the large sea swell the coast has been experiencing will ease this week.

Finally a notice is erected in an appropriate place to warn people of the danger of playing on the dunes. Action by the DCC has been called for since early August from members of the public both via email and the ODT letters to the editor.. my blog post.


Above two and below, recent East Swells have naturally replenished the beaches along the coast, especially noticable along the front of the sea wall at St Clair.

Below: a wider beach profile along from St Kilda to Middles can be seen.