Rusty broken gabions to be removed from Puriri Park

Puriri Park seawall has been in a dangerous condition for a number of years. Back in 2012, Waikato District Council identified the work as a priority. At last work on the repair is about to start.

Wednesday morning’s meeting with the consultants, contractors and WDC. Image John Lawson

A community meeting held on 29th October was advised that work is due to start next week, replacing the gabions with 60cm paddock boulders. The meeting included Malibu Hamilton (Raglan Community), Matt Holl (Raglan Community), John Lawson (Raglan Community), Richard Duirs (BBO Consultants), Colin Vette (Schick Construction), Daniel van der Hulst (Schick Construction) and Hamish Cairns (WDC). Fred Lichtwark and Angeline Greensill sent their apologies.

  • Discussed construction methodology and environmental protection procedures for the repair work to be completed at Puriri St boat ramp/gabion wall and the sea wall adjacent to 54 Wallis St. No issues cited.
  • Contractors (Schick Cartage and Construction) will establish at Puriri St to begin work on both sites the week of November 2nd (most likely Tuesday/Wednesday).
  • Completion of both sites will be early December.
  • In due course a meeting time will be arranged for December to meet at  Manu Bay  and review the project works to be undertaken on the breakwater.
  • Any changes or necessary updates will be sent as required.

At Puriri Park when they take out the gabion rocks, they’ll lay them on top of a mat from the Wallis St causeway, across the sand/mud on the dairy side of AroAro, to give them access to repair the seawall near the dairy, currently with the timber support. Raglander Fred Lichtwark has objected to the WDC repairing the Wallis St seawall saying it sets a precedent for ratepayers having to pay for moe and more repairs as sea levels rise with climate change.

This week work is going on to repair Te Akau Wharf.

Then, when there’s a chance of 10 days of fairly clam weather, sometime after 10 January, they’ll start work on Manu Bay boatramp breakwater, using 1.5m boulders from the Whanganui River.

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