TWO MILE CREEK WAIHI BEACH – IMPLCATIONS TODAY OF A 1930S DECISION

Two Mile Creek was established in the 1930’s to drain the backshore area, facilitating both land development for subdivision and assisting in draining areas of land for farming use (creek extends from Waihi Beach to Broadlands Block for 600m and drains approximately 550 hectares of residential and rural land).

Broadlands Reserve acts as a buffer/storage area for stormwater flowing into the creek. An existing road bridge downstream (Dillon Street) acts as a throttle for stormwater discharging onto the beachfront. Creek water levels are typically controlled by sand build-up damming on the foreshore.

During the last 70 years, development has seen both sides of the creek being inundated with properties and associated stormwater discharge flows entering the creek.

Damming at the creek outlet has caused constant wetting and drying of the creek banks. This coupled with storm surge/wave energy from the coastal marine area has led to significant erosion of the banks.

The creek was established by the landowners of large agricultural blocks in the 1930’s. These blocks were subsequently subdivided and developed, and zoned as both residential and commercial areas. The subsequent landowners have reacted with protests to Council about flooding and streams bank erosion issues. They perceive Council to be the owner of the stream based on previous maintenance work, and believe Council has a duty of care to investigate these issues.

This paper will outline the processes and actions undertaken over the last four years to achieve some form of resolution and physical works outcome. Currently split into two components, work is being undertaken for downstream of Dillon St Bridge residents of Two Mile Creek, however upstream some 40 odd property owners while in agreement that a bank protection is the given solution, are still are yet to reach consensus on who should be paying for this $4.5 million project.