People were out in the sunshine at Te Rauone’s fresh white sandy beach this week, enjoying the final outcome from a project made possible by the Otago Peninsula community.
Discussions over restoring the beach have been held for more than 10 years, involving Te Rauone Beach Coast Care Committee, Te Runanga o Otakou and Port Otago.
The beach had become badly eroded, causing the sand dunes to diminish.
The rock groynes — containing an estimated 15,000 tonnes of rock between them — would protect and hold sand from being washed away due to wind, natural tidal effects, boat wakes and dredging.
Port Otago was responsible for the sand replenishment once the structures were built and deposited sand collected from its dredging programmes across the harbour.
Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said he was proud to be part of the team that made the project happen.
"It was always an ambitious project, but we knew it could be done."
Mr Winders spent time as a child at the beach with his father and was pleased other generations would have the opportunity to enjoy the beach themselves.
"You dream about what it might look like, but it’s beyond our expectations. We thought it would be a big beach, but it’s incredibly big."
Mr Smith said he was down on the beach most days and could see the influx of people enjoying the rejuvenation.
"There are people swimming, boating, picnicking and walking their dogs.
"It’s become a real gathering point for people to congregate and catch up with each other."
SouthRoads contractors completed two significant parts of the work: building three 90m rock breakwaters, and spreading the 28,000sq m of dredged sand to form the beach.
SouthRoads project manager Keith Matheson said the $3 million project went smoothly, despite the dredged sand arriving at greater rates than budgeted.
"When the sand started coming thick and fast, we just ‘geared up’.
"Instead of two bits of kit, we threw four bits of kit at it and worked five days a week to get the job done. It all went really well."
