Pilot Bay Sand to be replenished ahead of summer

The council will add sand to areas across Pilot Bay that have been affected by weather events that have caused coastal erosion.  Photo / supplied

Ahead of a long, hot summer for Mount Maunganui beaches, sand was replenished at Waikorire and Pilot Bay from November 4.

The process is known as beach renourishment, in which sand is typically replenished to replace sediment that's been lost due to storm damage, drift, wind, and wave action. 

The council will add sand to areas across Pilot Bay that have been affected by weather events that have caused coastal erosion. 

During that time, a 500-metre section of the beach between Leinster Avenue and Salisbury Avenue will be temporarily fenced off to ensure the public's safety. 

While works were underway, large trucks and machinery would operate to bring in the sand. 

Temporary traffic management had been in place from 7am to 5pm.

 During these works, several carparks will be unavailable near Salisbury Wharf and on the corner of Salisbury Ave and The Mall.
 
Sand replenishment is typically an annual activity. The last time sand was replaced in this area was in spring 2023.
 
This work is weather-dependent.

 If it's delayed by weather or other unforeseen circumstances, it may be carried out at a later date. 

2 comments

The Master

Posted on 10-11-2024 12:14 | By Ian Stevenson

"Weather events"....????

So it has nothing to do with the channel having been deepened a few years ago?


Hmmm

Posted on 10-11-2024 13:08 | By Let's get real

Just as the cruise ship season is starting up..? Great planning from our council offices once again.
I can't believe that we are seeing a council involved in taking sand TO a beach anyway. Obviously the movements of the port traffic is causing the washing away of the beachfront and I'm of the opinion that they should be levied for the reinstatement.
Maybe we need to do some research into a more effective form of dredging the channel to minimise the suctioning effect of passing shipping prior to the planned dredging operation for the port. After all, that's where the beach is... in the shipping channel.


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