Save Ocean Beach

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

you have until 5pm today to send in your submission for Ocean beach, i haven't even started writing mine!!

Proposed Management Options for Ocean Beach

Closes: 25/11/2011

In 2008, the Council appointed a Project Team to gather data and consider management options for Ocean Beach. This followed significant erosion on the beach in June/July 2007, the DCC’s replenishment of sand on the beach and other remedial works as part of a now established ‘holding pattern’, and a comprehensive consultation process. Since then the Project Team has gathered and analysed that data and completed a risk assessment process. It has now identified proposed management options for Ocean Beach, taking into account the existing processes and risks.

A report from Tonkin & Taylor dated October 2011 entitled: ‘Ocean Beach, Coastal Issues and Options’, sets out preferred options for managing the area using an adaptive management approach. The report is available for inspection at the DCC’s Customer Services Centre and Libraries from Tuesday 25 October during their ordinary opening hours. A summary of intent and submission forms are also available. The information, plus background material on erosion at Ocean Beach, can be found at www.dunedin.govt.nz/consultation.

Submissions must be received by 5.00 pm on Friday 25 November. Hearing dates have been scheduled for Tuesday 31 January to Thursday 2 February 2012. Please state in your submission whether or not you wish to be heard.

Consultation documents

Consultation details

Closing date25/11/2011
Contact personBusiness Development Team Leader
Public feedback
  • Online submission form (new window)
  • Email to - oceanbeach.comment@dcc.govt.nz
  • Post to - Proposed Management Options for Ocean Beach, Community and Recreation Services, Dunedin City Council, PO Box 5045 Moray Place, Dunedin 9058, Attention: Lisa Labuchagne
  • Hand deliver to - Proposed Management Options for Ocean Beach, Customer Service Centre, Ground Floor Civic Centre, 50 The Octagon - Attention Lisa Labuchagne
Public meetings

The public meeting is to be held on Monday 7 November 2011 at 7.00 pm.

The venue is the Port Otago Room, first floor, Edgar Centre, corner Portsmouth Drive and Teviot Street.

All interested members of the public are cordially invited to attend. A summary of the options and submission forms will also be available at the meeting

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Damage to the St Clair access ramp, which occurred following heavy seas earlier this month. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Damage to the St Clair access ramp, which occurred following heavy seas earlier this month. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
 Major changes may be in store for a ramp and staircase at Dunedin's St Clair Beach, facilities which have had repeated failures in the face of heavy seas.
Dunedin community life general manager Graeme Hall said the ramp might be shifted further down the Esplanade towards Middle Beach, once councillors had made a decision on its future.
And with extensive research on the troublesome coastline recently, any decision made should be based on better information.
Mr Hall is writing a report on the future of the ramp and staircase, after the ramp failed earlier this month - the third time since the sea wall was built in 2004.
Council staff acted to keep the public safe by closing access. It has remained closed.
The damage followed rough seas that scoured sand from Tomahawk Beach and forced the council to shore up dunes at Middle Beach and disconnect electricity to lights at Kettle Park after sand hills were cut to within metres of the sportsground's light poles.
At St Clair, the ramp's concrete cracked, and steel reinforcing rods were exposed.
Asked about the likely contents of his report, Mr Hall said while sea walls at St Clair had historically had problems, the new wall itself had handled all the sea had thrown at it since it was established in 2004.
The ramp and the nearby staircase, however, had been a problem, he said.
Mr Hall said he had been writing a report on the history of the issue, dealing with engineering, insurance and guarantees, when the latest damage occurred.
After the recent damage the council would attempt to discover who was responsible for the constructions unable to stand the force of the sea.
Design consultant Duffill Watts and King and construction company Naylor Love agreed to strengthen and repair the ramp and staircase at no cost to the council when the facilities were replaced in 2007.
Mr Hall said it had been known since that time that the position and construction of the ramp was "not ideal" for the sea conditions in the area.
At the same time as the ramp and stair issues, the council had been dealing with erosion as a separate matter, and it was sensible to wait until reports, like the recently released Tonkin and Taylor report on coastal erosion, before making decisions.
"Whatever solutions come up, we will have a greater understanding of the beach than we have had previously," Mr Hall said.
Asked if the council had to provide the ramp for disability access, he said the council had the opportunity in the past to get a government exemption from having disability access at the beach, but had not followed that route.
The report will go before the next community development committee meeting on November 30.


St Clair ramp damaged again

Home » News » Dunedin
By David Loughrey on Thu, 6 Oct 2011
News: Dunedin | St Clair beach
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2011: A close-up of the cracked concrete, taken yesterday.
2011: A close-up of the cracked concrete, taken yesterday.
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A damaged ramp at the Esplanade in St Clair will remain closed, as the Dunedin City Council attempts to discover who is responsible for a construction unable to stand the tests of time and tide.
The ramp has failed for the third time since the seawall was built in 2004, and council staff have acted to keep the public safe by closing access.
The damage follows rough seas that scoured sand from Tomahawk Beach and forced the council to shore up dunes at Middle Beach and disconnect electricity to lights at Kettle Park after sand hills were cut to within metres of the sportsground's light poles.
At St Clair, the concrete ramp was hit so hard concrete cracked and steel reinforcing rods were exposed.
Council project engineer Evan Matheson yesterday said he had been notified of the damage by a property owner at the beach.
There was a "long history" to the issue, and council community life general manager Graeme Hall was writing a report to the council.
That report would help decide "what we do next".
Mr Hall was on leave, but council community development committee chairman Cr Bill Acklin said the report would be coming to his committee.
The council was recently forced to accept its design requirements for guard rails on the Esplanade were not up to scratch after it spent $347,000 repairing corrosion.
The ramp was damaged twice in three months during storms late in 2004 and early in 2005, not long after the seawall was built. The stairs were also damaged at the time.
A report commissioned by the council after those incidents found the failures were caused by a combination of construction and design faults.
Design consultant Duffill Watts and King and construction company Naylor Love agreed to strengthen and repair the ramp and staircase at no cost to the council, and the facilities were replaced in 2007.
Cr Acklin yesterday said he understood there were "issues in relation to who is responsible", which Mr Hall's report would consider.
The issue was not listed in the agenda for the next committee meeting on October 19, so he expected it to go before the November 30 meeting.

By David Loughrey on Sat, 1 Oct 2011

News: Dunedin | DCC

The lights have been turned off at Kettle Park, and Dunedin's Middle Beach will be replenished with sand, after concerns the sea has worked its way dangerously close to light poles at the park.

The Dunedin City Council confirmed yesterday fences and signs were being installed along the edge of the sports ground in the interests of public safety, and power had been disconnected from the sports field lights.

The work is expected to cost about $60,000.

"A further inspection of Ocean Beach was held this morning following our monitoring of the latest pattern of storm activity," council parks manager Lisa Wheeler said yesterday.

"It is now clear that the erosion of the dunes adjacent to Kettle Park on the eastern side of Moana Rua Rd requires remedial work."

Dunedin man John Piper, who walks his dog on the beach each day, raised concerns about the issue this week, after he noticed heavy seas had eroded sand dunes to within metres of light poles at the ground.

The council is coming to the end of an extended consultation and research period, as it tries to find a way to deal with the constant erosion at the beaches from St Clair to Lawyers Head, which was made worse by severe storms in 2007.

The council has been shoring up the dunes since then, dumping extra sand and placing "reno blankets" - rock-filled wire netting - along the beach.

Yesterday, community and recreation services manager Mick Reece said a rip had formed at Middle Beach.

The council has a stockpile of sand at Tahuna, which it dredged from Otago Harbour, and 5000cu m would be used to replenish the beach.

Contractors would also attempt during low tides to remove rubble from the beach that had been dumped there in the past, but had been exposed.

Ms Wheeler said the swell at the beach was predicted to ease yesterday, and work was being organised to begin next week to replenish the dunes most severely affected.

In 2009, the council set aside $400,000 for the following three years to deal with the problems until a longer-term solution was found.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz

There has been some erosion of the dune face at various points along the beach due to recent swell activity, mostly in the area located between The Esplanade, St Clair and the Moana Rua Road, St Kilda. Contractors have been instructed to remove overhanging sections of dune in areas where the face has been eroded to prevent clay capping material from falling onto the beach. Due to a lowering of sand levels, the stairway from the gravel track between the St Clair seawall and the tennis courts has been closed and the lower sections removed. This section of track may also be at risk of erosion during a predicted storm event and therefore will be closely monitored and repair works arranged where necessary.

A report outlining the Project Team's preferred management options for the long term coastal protection of Ocean Beach and requesting approval to publicly consult on these options is being presented to the Community Development Committee on 7th September.

Home » News » Dunedin
By Chris Morris on Thu, 8 Sep 2011
News: Dunedin | DCC

The public will be asked to have their say as the Dunedin City Council considers plans to combat erosion at Middle Beach that could lead to a "managed retreat" from the area.

Councillors at yesterday's council community development committee agreed to consult the public on a draft Ocean Beach management plan prepared by consultant Tonkin and Taylor.

The draft plan covered an area stretching 4km from St Clair to Lawyers Head and includes Middle Beach, where serious erosion occurred following severe storms in 2007.

The report recommended continuing the council's holding pattern of monitoring and sand replenishment work - put in place following the 2007 storms - in the meantime.

However, the report also canvassed 13 longer-term options and recommended a managed retreat from Middle Beach and Kettle Park, or construction of an inland buried backstop wall to protect the area, over the next 10 to 50 years.

Initial estimates showed the work could cost between $8 million and $19 million, including a clean-up of the old landfill underneath Kettle Park at risk of being further exposed by continued erosion.

Council community and recreation services manager Mick Reece said he hoped consultation could be completed by the end of this year, with recommendations that followed considered as part of next year's long-term plan hearings.

Detailed information gathered by the council's Ocean Beach project team would also be made public through the council's website to aid the consultation process, he said.

chris.morris@odt.co.nz

Home » News » Dunedin
By Chris Morris on Fri, 2 Sep 2011
News: Dunedin
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
A digger works on top of the sand dunes at Middle Beach. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
A digger works on top of the sand dunes at Middle Beach. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Coastal erosion could force Dunedin's Kettle Park and nearby dunes to be abandoned to the sea, but only after millions of dollars are spent clearing potentially toxic industrial waste from an old landfill lying underneath.

The idea of a "managed retreat" from Middle Beach and Kettle Park is one of two recommendations to come from consultants Tonkin and Taylor, as the Dunedin City Council considers how to respond to coastal erosion threatening the area.

The suggestions came even as council staff yesterday warned of further erosion likely in the area over the next few days, with large swells having stripped sand from the beach and dunes between St Clair and St Kilda in recent days.

The Tonkin and Taylor report, made public yesterday, recommended a managed retreat or construction of an inland buried backstop wall to protect critical areas along the coast, over the next 10 to 50 years.

Initial estimates showed the work could cost between $8 million and $19 million, with any retreat including a clean-up of the old landfill underneath Kettle Park.

Members of the public were warned late last year to stay clear of the area's dunes after traces of arsenic, asbestos and other industrial chemicals from the landfill were detected.

The Tonkin and Taylor report was commissioned last year as part of council planning for the Ocean Beach Domain, which began in 2007 after severe storms caused significant erosion in the area.

The domain stretches about 4km from St Clair to Lawyers Head and includes Middle Beach, where the most serious erosion problems have occurred.

The report presented a draft management plan to be considered by councillors at next week's community development committee meeting, before being released for public consultation.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull declined to comment yesterday, saying he was yet to read the finished report.

Council Ocean Beach project team chairman Cr Colin Weatherall said consultation was still required before any decisions were made, which was likely to be several years away.

He would not discuss his personal views when asked about the recommendations or whether he considered the costs affordable.

"Certainly, at the moment, cost is a very large driver in council's budget numbers ... I don't have an opinion on the dollars. I'd rather see what the solution is first and then how we fund it secondly.

"We've got to come up with a practical solution long term that's good for Dunedin city and the community. Therefore, we need to listen to the community and what they want to do."

The report warned erosion had already exposed industrial waste from the landfill, and expected sea-level rise - bringing waves with greater energy - increased the risk of further erosion over the rest of this century.

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As a result of high seas in the week 13-17 June there has been a general reduction in beach height. With calmer conditions over the past week the sea swell and wave height has reduced and prevented the dune toe being further damaged. No works are required at this stage and staff will continue to monitor the situation regularly. The warning signage and fencing relating to the former land fill site will remain in place until further notice.

A workshop was held on 27th June to brief Councillors on issues at Ocean Beach. A report outlining options for future treatment will be presented to the Community Development Committee on 27th July, and public consultation will be undertaken on recommended options for the long term management of Ocean Beach after this date.

There has been some lowering of beach sand levels over recent weeks. In one spot, to the west of Moana Rua Road, sand levels have dropped by two metres and rubble has been exposed at the toe of the dune for a distance of approximately 75 metres. The rest of the beach has lowered somewhat, however this is likely to recover over time.

Further tests were commissioned to better determine the extent of contamination of the dune surface and the areas adjacent to the former landfill at Kettle Park. The results of these tests have been analysed and none of the samples collected from the beach, the windblown sand on the sportsfield and the sportsfield surface levels, tested above acceptable limits. Indications are that the contamination is localised.

The warning signage and fencing will remain in place until further notice.

Weather patterns have been favourable recently with no low pressure events occurring during high tides. The minor depletion of sand previously noted at the beach end of the St Clair seawall has recovered completely. The regular beach access points are structurally sound. However, warning signs relating to the contamination of the dune area around the old landfill site at Kettle Park remain in place and with the area fenced off. Further testing is being carried out to determine the extent of contamination.

The Project Team has been working with specialist risk advisors to complete a risk assessment of Ocean Beach, and will continue to work with them to develop and evaluate options to mitigate the risks identified. Once this evaluation is completed, a report will be prepared by the Project Team outlining recommended future treatment options for Ocean Beach for the Council's consideration.


Update: January 2011

Mixed weather over the summer has led to the occasional 'step' in the sand on Ocean Beach, but in general sand levels remain high overall. Late last year the Ocean Beach Project Team commissioned studies to determine the boundaries and types of material in the old Landfill site at Kettle Park. These studies found that there were some contaminants exposed on the seaward dune face at Kettle Park, and that might be a health risk to the public if there is prolonged exposure to the dunes in that area. Further studies to determine the extent and scope of the contamination are continuing. In the interim, warning signs and fencing has been erected to ensure the public are informed and guided away from the area in question.

The information gathering exercise will be drawing to an end shortly, and after the Project Team has completed a risk analysis process it will prepare its recommendations for future treatment of the Ocean Beach and report to Council.


The DCC was advised by engineering consultants, Tonkin & Taylor, that industrial material buried under the Kettle Park playing fields may have been exposed on the seaward dune at Kettle Park.

Indications are that there is a possibility of a health risk to the public with any prolonged or on-going exposure to these dunes.

The Project Team has been gathering information on the extent of the old landfill site at Kettle Park. Recently, it commissioned studies by Tonkin & Taylor to determine the boundaries and types of material in the old landfill site. This involved boreholes and samples being taken below the playing fields and the surrounding area, including the adjacent dune face.

The studies indicate that there is construction material and industrial waste under the clay cap which covers the playing fields. This was suspected, and the studies confirm that the waste is safely covered and there are no health issues whatsoever with the playing fields.

The investigations have, however, identified that these buried materials have been exposed on the seaward dune, probably as a consequence of compression over time.

These are preliminary findings and further studies will be commissioned immediately.

However, indications are that there may be a possibility of health risk to the public with any prolonged exposure to the dunes adjacent to the playing fields at Kettle Park.

Any risk relates only to prolonged and on-going exposure, but there is nonetheless a need for caution. It should be emphasised that there is no risk to the users of the adjacent sports grounds at Kettle Park.

The engineers who carried out the investigations have recommended that the DCC:

"carry out further investigations immediately to confirm whether the samples taken are representative and that any significant human health risk exists. A statistically based investigation will provide a robust basis for decision making about the management of the landfill and the coastal dunes."

The evaluation made by Tonkin & Taylor has been on the basis of a limited sample data and therefore must be regarded as preliminary only. However, it indicates that:

  • long term exposure on sections of the dunes at Kettle Park may present a human health risk; and that
  • it appears unlikely that the exposed materials present an immediate risk.

Signage is being prepared and will be installed at the Kettle Park beach access points and at all other access points along Ocean Beach as a matter of urgency. It is anticipated the signage will include the information below:

Sign Number One (at the Kettle Park area)

Caution

Members of the public are urged to stay clear of this area of dunes.

Preliminary studies into the old landfill site in this area show some industrial contaminants on the seaward side of these dunes. Until further studies have been completed, the Dunedin City Council advises that there may be a health risk to members of the public from prolonged and on-going exposure to the dunes in this area.

Further information is available by phoning 477 4000.

Sign Number Two (at other beach access points)

Caution

You are advised to stay clear of and avoid all contact with the dunes adjacent to Moana Rua Road.

Preliminary studies into the old landfill site in that area show some industrial contaminants on the seaward side of those dunes. Until further studies have been completed, the Dunedin City Council advises that there may be a health risk to members of the public from prolonged and on-going exposure to the dunes in that area.

Further information is available by phoning 477 4000.

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