Island Bay Seawall Scheme Begins

Work to repair, upgrade and strengthen Island Bay’s seawall will begin next week, according to the Wellington City Council.

Contractors Fulton Hogan will have workers on site setting up from next Wednesday 18 November. They plan to complete the job by mid-June next year.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said that the upgrade work will address structural issues and make the seawall more resilient to storms in the short to medium-term.

“Sea-level rise, and bigger, more frequent storms due to climate change are a reality we recognize. Repairing the wall is part of a larger program of work to increase resilience on the south coast,” she said.

Areas of the 340-meter seawall were significantly damaged during storms in 2013 and again this year.

A 41-meter section opposite Shorland Park collapsed completely, and much of the upper part of the seawall that remains is on a lean and needs to be realigned and secured.

About 290 steel rods will be used to secure the top section of the wall to the base. This will enable it to withstand major storms like the ones that hit in 2013.

A new concrete beam will be installed below ground on the footpath side of the seawall to make it stronger and safer. Steps to the beach will also be repaired, where needed, and the concrete piers on either side secured.

Work will be done in sections to minimise the impact on the beach and beach goers. This will mean most of the beach will remain accessible, as only a small section will need to be cordoned off at any one time.

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