Auckland Council: Fixing Damage in Franklin Area

More than a year after last January’s storms in Franklin Local Board area, work to fix the damage left in their wake continues, said New Zealand’s Auckland Council in its latest release. 

“It’s been a long haul,” Franklin Local Board member Alan Cole said. “Damage was done on both coasts and while some of it was able to be corrected quickly, other areas are still waiting. Sometimes you have to stop and ask if a quick-fix is not just storing up more problems for the future.”

According to the council’s announcement, repairs are prioritized, low for areas with little risk of shoreline erosion or where existing management structures are adequate, medium for areas with minor evidence of erosion to the coast or structures, and high in areas where the shoreline shows extensive erosion and where structures have been significantly damaged.

On the other side of Franklin at Omana plans are being finalized to go to tender for the undermined footpath, which will be protected with rock armor revetment. Maraetai has had large-scale berm repairs and dune planting, while the footpath to the west of the wharf has been reinforced.

At Kawakawa Bay, feedback on beach renourishment is being sought, steps have been repaired and rock added, while coastal erosion experts have recommended the tipped rock seawall at Beachland’s Sunkist Bay be replaced with a rock armor revetment wall.

Experts were asked to consider a grouted seawall but said revetment was the best engineering solution and was more cost-effective at $3000-per-meter as opposed to $7000, said the council.

Board chair Angela Fulljames added that the board accepted a request from her and fellow Wairoa subdivision members Amanda Hopkins and Malcolm Bell, that aspects of the plans be amended for amenity enhancement and that work on the boat ramps also be included.