Shocking price of restoring beach

Port Otago has shocked a community group striving to raise $290,000 for beach-saving repairs, with an unexpected proposal for an up to $2 million alternative.

Port Otago yesterday strenuously denied allegations by an Otago regional councillor it was using delaying tactics to hamper restoration of crumbling Te Rauone Beach on the harbour side of Otago Peninsula.

Estimates have some residents losing up to 150m of beachfront during the past 60 years, with others having to stabilise their land with rocks and sandbags to protect against the sea.

Others have described the once pristine beach as now being an unattractive mudflat.

Following a Port Otago presentation to its owner, the regional council, yesterday, Cr Sam Neill took company chairman Dave Faulkner to task over the Te Rauone Beach issue during question time.

He claimed both the Otago Regional Council and Port Otago had treated the issue ''shoddily'' in recent years, but acknowledged during Mr Faulkner's tenure ''some traction'' had been made.

What was not revealed to councillors yesterday, but from ODT inquiries after the meeting, was Port Otago told the Te Rauone Beach Coast Care Committee last week the long-agreed $290,000 breakwater project ''wouldn't work'', but instead up to $2 million could be spent on several groynes.

Te Rauone Beach Coast Care Committee chairman Graeme Burns, when contacted, confirmed last week's ''up to $2 million proposal''.

''We've struck a brick wall . . . that [$2 million] really is beyond us. I don't know where we go next,'' Mr Burns said.

During the council meeting, Mr Neill asked why Port Otago had not yet applied for resource consent to deposit sand on Te Rauone from its dredging operations.

Mr Neil, a former deputy chairman of the Otago Peninsula Community Board, also criticised Port Otago for seeking a second opinion from engineers.

They criticised an earlier engineer's report, and came to the conclusion the project would cost ''three times the price''.

''Is this another fob-off, or is Port Otago serious about resolving this issue?'' Mr Neill demanded.

Mr Faulkner said the intention was still that Port Otago would provide the sand, and locals a protective structure; proposals which go back many years.

''Yes, we want to fix this and try and retain the sand there.

''It's still a project very much on the books,'' Mr Faulkner countered.

Outside the meeting, Mr Faulkner defended the passage of time and knew residents were understandably ''very unhappy'', but meetings were continuing; the next being on Labour Day, October 24.

When told the ODT now knew Port Otago had presented a $2 million proposal last week to the Te Rauone Beach Coast Care Committee, Mr Faulkner defended that as news ''just hot off the press''.

''That's what we will be meeting them about [on Labour Day] to discuss options,'' he said.

When pressed that the community group was struggling to raise $290,000, let alone contribute towards the $2 million, Mr Faulkner said: ''Quite right. No, we won't be building groynes and neither will the trust have to.''

When reminded Port Otago had in principle agreed to the $290,000 breakwater, Mr Faulkner said the most recent engineer's report found that ''wouldn't work'', but could give no details on what the options for discussion might be.

Mr Faulkner was asked if the gulf was getting wider between Port Otago and the community trust, rather than closer to agreement.

''Yes, that's probably the case. But we're not walking away from this.''

Port Otago had spent ''less than'' $100,000 to date on the project, Mr Faulkner said.

Te Rauone Beach Coast Care Committee has been fundraising for many years toward the $290,000 breakwater.

It had $120,000 ''in the bank'', from $40,000 fundraising, the DCC's $50,000 and the Maori landowners $30,000. A further $170,000 is to be sought from trusts.

Committee chairman Mr Burns said despite having twice in recent times confirmed with Port Otago the $290,000 breakwater, its engineers now preferred an up to $2million series of groynes.

''We've been pressing for this a long, long time; decades now,'' Mr Burns said.

While ship wash from passing vessels had been bandied about in the past as causing the erosion, Mr Burns preferred it was seen as a ''series of events'', including changes in weather, current and coastal sand distribution.

Mr Faulkner noted that from research Te Rauone Beach was ''built'' in the 1920s by the then harbour board, using the equivalent of about 1.5 million cu m of spoil.

He confirmed dredging spoil would be used by Port Otago to replenish the beach.

simon.hartley@odt.co.nz