Save Ocean Beach

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)

A scanned copy of the article I wrote for April's issue of Swell Lines, The only South Island Surfing Magazine..
The Great Sand Shift outlines the Resource Consent Applications for Sand Mining and recontouring at tomahawk and middle beaches. And a bit of the History of St Clair sand issues.

Below a clipping form the ODT last week with the progress on the Tomahawk Sand Issue

Yesterday morning after just over ten months, work began on the replacement of the south set of stairs. The two sections of steps arriving on the back of the truck with crane in place. ( the top section of stairs are the original stairs which were damaged, havig been 'fixed/refurbished')


Lifting the steps into place below::

If you wish to comment on this blog post

With all the focus on the Tomahawk and Middle beach sand mining and recontouring resource consents recently, the DCC managed to sneak through and approve the mining and removal of up to 1500 cubic metres of sand from Kuri Beach per year.
The resource consent application was made by Blackhead Quarries, which was to continue extracting sand from Kuri Beach for the next ten years. 13 submissions were attracted, all opposing the application, but of course it was approved anyway.

Most of the submissions were concerned with the ongoing sustainability of taking sand from the beach. Funny though, that 'evidence' was provided by council staff to push consent approval indicating that sand replenishment on coastal otago beaches was a natural process. If thats the case, then why are they pushing for the extraction and replenishment of sand from Tomahawk for St Clair beach (an unnatural act) if they are so sure that sand replenishment is a natural cycle? or is the unnatural loss of sand at St clair due to the re-design of the sea wall... just as there is a need for replenishment at Middles, including major dune restoration, which in turn is due to reclamation of major tracts of land for Playing fields which were previously large areas of natural dune formations.
According to saddle Hill Community Board chairman Dave McPhee the beach has already lost 50m of beach and that the offshores sandbanks would not be maintained forever. I can surely agree with that, especially as over the last few decades there is scientifically recorded a markedly reduced amount of sand and silt flowing from the Clutha mouth due to the trapping of these materials behind the hydro dams on the Clutha River.

This resource consent was granted on the 5th of december 2006, and the appeal period closed on January the 19th. no appeals were received.

OSH save us from the DCC
what a way to bring awareness to the situation the DCC has created with the New Sea Wall and the methods of construction and maintenance.
Tops to the instigators of these plaquards over the weekend.

There are innumerable hazards both around the sea wall, and the sea wall its self.
1. old farm gate sticking out over pathway.
2. Continually slimy and slippery steps.
3. Exposed steel rods and other objects littering the beach.
4. What appears to be a exact replacement of stairs which have already been proven to be destructable.
5. Rickety Handrails.

pic below added 13 feb .. re: comments below

So this is what happens with a north east swell over a period of weeks.. the sand is coming back.. here are two photos taken approx 6 weeks apart.
the rocky one on the 6th of December, and one just yesterday on the 18th of january.
Both at the absolute lowest tide of the day.

Top pic is St Clair at 8 am ish this morning.
The great thing happening is the build up of sand again !!
the ramp is repaired and can now function normally, as there is flat rockless sand at its base.

At 14 December, 2006 22:14, Jono said…

stood on a metal spike coming in today, looks like it went clean in and out, so hopefully no infections, so anyone surfing st clair, add that to your list of hazards, there are a whole lot of bits of metal sticking out of the sand, straight in front of the south stair set, attached to a massive bit of concrete so I couldn't pull it out

( shit mate.. hope your tetanus is up to date! .. funny eh, well not funny, but the other day.. the stroll along the 'beach' ... now the photos seem quite appropriate)

and also noted at the time.. the wear of the panels of the new sea wall.. wave action throwing the rocks around and acting as sandpaper .. so thats two months worth of wear..

just slipped another link in here to a post back in may about the rods sticking up dangerously at the bottom of those stairs.. same ones?? LINK

I have been working towards a bit of an article about the loss of sand at St Clair since the construction of the new sea wall.. and the pending resource consent to alter further the sand dunes and what remains of the natural coastline of Dunedin.
.. but the content of each of my days lately has made it difficult to focus on getting this issue out.
I need to at least say the scenario briefly now, or it may become too late.

It involves recontouring of the sand dunes at Middles, and Tomahawk beaches .. including the storage of thousands of tonnes of sand at Tommahawk Beach for 'replenishment sand stocks' for other Dunedin sites. It is presented as a conservation project.

The actual application on the DCC website - click here
More information with detailed applications - click here

supporting ODT article scanned in 2 small pics above.
Submissions for and opposing close on the 29th of January 2007, having been extended from the original date of December 8th 2006.
MORE TO COME

found and old pic in the album I just scanned, (now I've worked out how to scan straight into photoshop).. of the height of the pier piles november 1996 compared to august 2006. Since then even more sand has gone. Anyone keen to guess how much sand has gone? . hint the guy is 6ft 1 .
and ha ha, thats me on the left in matching stonewash denim jacket and jeans

and the white arrow points to the same pole in each picture