Paekākāriki seawall

We are planning to build a 900-metre long timber replacement of the Paekākāriki seawall to improve protection of the road, infrastructure and the beach environment.

Latest news

November 2023

Earlier this year, we went out for tender for the construction of the first stage of the new seawall, accessway 4 – a concrete 72-metre section and beach access near the Memorial Hall. We engaged with our preferred tenderer. However we could not award the contract due to affordability and associated risks.

We will now progress designing a section of the like-for-like timber wall as planned in the Long-term Plan 2021–41, while reworking the design of accessway four using timber.

The timber wall option allows us to stage construction over several years. This will minimise community disruption and construction risk and help us manage the financial impact of what is still a significant investment. It will also provide better opportunities for local contractors to engage in the project as the work is not as complex as the concrete option which requires more specialist skills. 

Background

The current seawall has deteriorated and needs to be replaced to continue to protect the road and other public infrastructure. The areas on top of the seawalls are accessways for seawall maintenance vehicles, not walkways, so we can’t build anything that gets in the way, like steps that run from the road to the beach.

Following consultation with the community for the Long-term Plan 2018–38 it was agreed that Council would replace the wall with a concrete and rock replacement. However, since then costs and conditions have changed and this option is now unaffordable. 

In the Long-term Plan 2021–41, Council recommended and agreed to rebuilding the wall in timber, incorporating improved beach access and artistic elements agreed with the community. More than 70 percent of people who had their say on the seawall during consultation agreed with this approach.

The timber wall will cost approximately $17 million and will be built in stages over the next five years. The staged approach better suits local contracting companies and will enable us to plan construction for when the weather is more reliable. The wall’s design life will be 25–30 years.

Design

As far as possible we will incorporate the objectives of the Paekākāriki Seawall Design Group and the Paekākāriki Community Board. This includes improving access to the beach for all users and incorporating an art and cultural thread in the design.

Affordability will continue to be a key consideration because Council must balance the community's aspirations with the need to apply a fair and consistent approach to coastal management across the district while continuing to operate within its financial means.

Plans

See larger image [JPG 121 KB].

See larger image [JPG 170 KB].