Piha Coastcare and their local supporters have been lobbying Auckland Council to have the streams separated by mechanical means and the dunes restored and/or reshaped.  Similarly, the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society and many other locals support leaving the streams and dunes for nature to take it’s course, unless erosion threatens the road infrastructure.

In December the Piha R&R, and the two organisations mentioned above, met with Auckland Council and Auckland Transport representatives, including environmental and coastal engineering specialists.  The specialists presented survey reports detailing the dune cross section profiles from the sea to the road at a number of points beginning south of the streams and ending close to the Les Waygood Park.  At that meeting it was agreed that a “trigger point”, agreed by all parties, should be established to determine a point at which the Council would begin the process of bringing machinery on to the beach to move sand as necessary to protect the road infrastructure.   It was agreed by all parties that the trigger point could not be established without more information and that a decision should be made in May 2012.  By that time three more surveys would have been completed, (January, February and March,) for a total of four, when a consensus decision should be more easily reached. The trigger point noted on the Auckland Council information below is not an agreed position, but an interim position proposed by Council specialists at the December meeting.

In the meantime Auckland Council has applied for consent to enter and work on the beach with heavy machinery during summer months, (existing consents forbids work on the beach between approximately Labour Weekend and Easter,) and since the late December dune erosion, has been lobbied by some for work to be undertaken immediately.

We have received communication and reports, see below, from Auckland Council regarding this situation, in which they propose another meeting in late February. Your opinion and input is important.

Please review the information below and let us know by e-mail HERE any opinions you may have on the subject so we may represent your views.

Auckland Council e-mail   HERE

Auckland Council report   HERE

Auckland Council dune profiles  HERE

We have not been advised where the event will be sited, but below is the information that we have received.

To promote safe and sober driving Auckland Transport will host six Beach Day events over summer, touching key locations around Auckland.  At each event there will be:

• A branded water tanker handing out water
• Photo Booth printing takeaway photos
• Silent Disco Tent
• Acoustic guitarist for 1.5 hours
• Promo staff handing out giveaways and information

The event will run from approximately 1 pm – 5 pm

Of course would probably all agree that pursuing stronger enforcement of the Bylaws would be desirable, but that is a separate issue.

If you have concerns about the Dog Bylaws and Policies that you would like to be considered in our submission, please e-mail the Secretary HERE.

See our previous item and links to Auckland Council to make a submission yourself HERE.

See the Western Leader article on the subject HERE.

Hi All,

Please find the attached footpath proposal behind the safety barrier at the first corner of  Glen Esk Road including the new retaining walls to support the footpath.

There are couple of options for the surface treatment. The current proposal is to provide a concrete footpath, same as the footpath at the corner of Glen Esk Road and Seaview Road. The alternative option is to provide the honeycomb and metal path , same as the path along Seaview Road at Lion Rock corner.

I would really appreciate your response by Friday, 17 February 2012.

Many Thanks, Sree

Sreekanth Vidhyadharan | Senior Engineer

Good morning people,

I’m currently undertaking work around Auckland surf breaks to feed into the Auckland Unitary Plan (statutory document which will combine the previous Auckland district plans and regional plans). This is likely to result in specific policy around protection of regionally significant surf breaks, and spatial identification of these.  As background evidence gathering, I’m running a survey to obtain some statistics on where people surf in Auckland, and reasons they surf where they do.

The survey only takes around 5 minutes to complete, and I need as many responses as I can get. So please fill it out, and forward onto anyone and everyone you know that surfs in Auckland & cares about the future of our surf breaks.

Survey link: http://engage.ubiquity.co.nz/surveys/0wkJzyNaR0ebOgjOookQlg

P.s. this will not lead to exposure of any lesser surfed/semi secret breaks, the breaks listed are well known by the Auckland surfing population. The survey will remain open for approximately 6 weeks, and you may see it advertised on surf.co, swellmap, and aucklandsurf over the next month.

Much appreciate you valuable knowledge!

Cheers, Matt

Also Auckland Council includedes the following in their Brochure on the subject

We welcome your views on these proposals.
Submissions open Thursday, 26 January 2012 and close
Monday, 27 February 2012.
A copy of the full statement of proposal, submission
form and summary can be found at:
• Auckland Council Libraries
• Auckland Council Service Centres; and
• Online at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/bylaws
Where you can also make an online submission.
• Or by phoning our call centre on 09 301 0101.

AGM Minutes – HERE Financial Report - HERE Presidents Report – HERE Library Report - HERE