Key decision 2: Should we renew the Paekākāriki seawall a different way?

We have to repair the wall, but the costs for the current plan have increased significantly and we need to review our approach.

What are the options?

The issue

Since consultation was undertaken with the community for the 2018–38 Long-term Plan about the Paekākāriki seawall, and a plan developed for replacing the wall, costs and conditions have changed.

The estimated cost of the concrete and rock option currently planned has increased substantially and Council considers it necessary to explore how the wall can be renewed at a more reasonable cost to the district. Increased costs in other areas across Council also mean we need to look closely at the relatively high cost of this project and the impact it would have on our debt.

We know the impacts of climate change will be experienced in different ways in different parts of the district. How we deal with the Paekākāriki seawall needs to be considered more widely, to ensure equity across our communities and to provide an approach for assessing similar future needs in the district. At the same time, we need to provide improved access to Paekākāriki beach and ongoing protection for Council assets such as the water piping beneath The Parade. We also want to ensure that as far as possible we retain the core elements of the concrete design option worked on with the Paekākāriki Seawall Design Group and the community board, in consultation with the Paekākāriki community.

Why do we need this?

Council is committed to renewing the almost 1-kilometre (930-metre) seawall in some way. The seawall protects community infrastructure on the Paekākāriki foreshore, such as roads and water assets, for which the Council is responsible.

The existing wall is in extremely poor condition and requires significant ongoing maintenance. The seawall failed badly in the July 2016 storm surge and again during Cyclone Gita in early 2018. The wall was originally built in the 1970s with a 25-year design life, though some sections have lasted longer.

Council is also committed to improving access to the beach and along The Parade for all users. We also need to consider traffic calming for The Parade. This is funded separately, but can be done alongside work on the wall. The beach at Paekākāriki is a feature of the village both for locals and visitors. When Transmission Gully opens, the village will be bypassed, so an improved beach frontage will be a drawcard and help the economic stability of businesses in the village centre.