Sand replenishment at Orewa Beach
Orewa Beach's annual sand replenishment work is due to commence next week.
We usually plan to do this work prior to the busy season commencing in Labour Weekend each year. However, due to the multiple king tides and easterly swells that the beach has endured this year, this work will take place next week.
The replenishment work involves gathering sand from the groyne area at the south of the beach and moving it north to the Orewa Beach Reserve and the area between Kinloch Reserve and Kohu Street.
To ensure that we have taken all precautions to protect the public during these works, our contractor will be erecting 1.8m fencing from the north end of the Orewa Beach Reserve right along the edge of the reserve down to the groyne. This fencing will be installed today and will remain intact until Friday next week (August 24).
There will be gaps left in the fencing over the weekend so that the public can access the beach. We will be using the orange mesh fencing at the Kinloch- Kohu end of the beach next week as the works are not as extensive in that area as the southern end.
These works next week will take place between the hours of 7am-6pm. Please note that people will still have access to the beach outside the cordoned off areas.
“We are commonly asked, ‘Why do we have to keep replenishing the sand on Orewa beach? Won’t it all just be washed away again if we have another high tide?’” says Agnes McCormack, Head of Operational Management and Maintenance for Community Facilities at Auckland Council.
“Good question! The answer is yes, but it’s not that simple!
“When there are extreme weather events, Orewa loses sand in two key areas of the beach. By replenishing the sand in these areas it actually performs the dual function of providing a storm buffer which acts to protect the beach from further erosion, at the same time restoring access and amenity by creating a pleasant sandy beach for beach users.
“Therefore, it is important to restore the sand on Orewa beach, because if there should happen to be another extreme weather event in the interim, the beach is very exposed to yet more erosion, and this is an unacceptable risk.”