Waihi beach coastal protection consequence of 1930's stormwater control measures

This paper outlines Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s approach in upgrading defunct and ad hoc creek and shoreline protection measures along the Waihi Beach coastline. It also includes community consultation undertaken during design / consenting and construction phases of the project and the “trials and tribulations” in dealing with interested / concerned stakeholders.

The consented coastal protection measures included construction of sandbag groynes to train the stormwater flow through the mouth of Three Mile Creek, removal of 1600m of defunct steel and timber seawall, reconstruction of 1050m of rock revetment and enhanced dune care along 600m of dunes fronting Waihi Beach.

The construction works were split into two major projects:

• Three Mile Creek Protection: construction of two groynes at the creek outlet to restore adjacent foreshore dunes.
• Waihi Beach Shoreline Protection: reconstruction of the rock revetment and dune enhancement works along part of the shoreline to mitigate erosion damage.

Coastal erosion protection measures fronting Waihi Beach were required as a result of land use practices and stormwater control measures in the 1930s. These practices resulted in a change to the coastal environment, lowering beach levels and erosion of the existing dune system.