Save Ocean Beach

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

Otago Daily Times
By David Loughrey on Wed, 23 Apr 2008
The St Clair sea wall's effect on erosion, and support for an artificial reef to help the problem, came through strongly at a hearing yesterday trying to find ways to hold on to Dunedin's sand.

Several surfers emphasised the sport's popularity, and the degradation of the beach since the new sea wall was built.

The second and last day of public submissions, before city councillors Paul Hudson, Colin Weatherall and Dave Cull, was held yesterday, at a hearing that is part of investigations into stabilising the city's beaches, which were badly eroded during storms last year.

Issues that came up regularly from submitters included claims land reclaimed near the St Clair Salt Water Pool had added to the erosion, and affected the surf break.

Nicola Reeves, a surfer, has been writing a blog about the erosion, and researching the issue. She suggested using Holmberg Industries' technology of "undercurrent stabilisers'', and also called for dune development with plantings, even if it meant the loss of Kettle Park.

Holmberg is a United States-based company that has approached the council offering its services, and uses low-profile geo-textile tubes placed at an angle perpendicular to the shore, designed to baffle the sea's energy.

Ms Reeves questioned the public submission process, and claimed submitters had not been listened to during consultation on the sea wall.

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