Sea-wall work almost done

Peter Standring
Peter Standring
Work to secure and stabilise the damaged sections of sea wall and the Esplanade at St Clair should be completed by this weekend.

Since the installation of new sheet-piling at the bottom of the sea wall was completed last week, contractors have been filling gaps behind the wall to protect it from the thumping of waves.

A gap between the sea wall and the original sea wall behind it has been filled with fine gravel, and holes that appeared in the Esplanade have been filled with coarser gravel.

The holes were created when the wall was undermined by high tides and heavy seas that removed more than a metre of sand from the beach at the foot of the wall and created gaps through which fill from behind was sucked out under the wall.

Council roading maintenance engineer Peter Stand-ring said he expected the filling work to be completed by this weekend.

The sheet-piling and fill would protect the wall from further damage, but the area round the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club's ramp would remain closed to the public for a significant amount of time yet.

Contractors would next go over the damaged area looking for any less obvious damage that had not been picked up yet.

The next major stage of work would be looking at addressing the sand retention on the beach in the long term.

Council staff had narrowed down the 11 expressions of interest received from consultants across the country for that work, and were in discussions with three companies.

It was hoped a decision on a consultant would be made by the middle of next week.

- debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement