Better beaches by summer

Auckland City Council is getting on with beach resanding projects at Pt Chevalier, Hamilton, Sentinel and Herne Bay beaches, Taylors Bay and Blockhouse Bay Beach.

The council last night awarded the contract to supply sand for these beaches and work will take place during winter and spring so they are ready for people to enjoy by summer.

Four coastal reserves in surrounding areas will also be upgraded – Marine Parade, and Bella Vista, Cremorne, and Home Bay Beach reserves.

Mayor of Auckland city, Hon. John Banks says he is sure the replenished beaches and reserve upgrades will make a huge difference for Aucklanders.

"After the success of upgrades at Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St Heliers beaches in recent years, it's great to be able to give those in the west of the city new beaches for summer.

"People around these western bays will have improvements to look forward to, not just with more sand on their local beaches, but also more space for recreation, and the addition of new stairs, planting and street furniture in the reserves surrounding them. I know these enhancements will be welcomed and well used."

Work on Pt Chevalier Beach is scheduled to start in September and be complete by December. Work on the other five beaches is expected to start in June and be complete by the end of August. The four reserve upgrades are scheduled to be carried out between April and July 2008.

Specialist sand dredging contractor, Coastal Resources Limited (CRL) will collect sand from the outer Hauraki Gulf.

The company supplied sand to Mission Bay, St Heliers, and Kohimarama beaches in previous beach replenishment projects, and the sand for these Western beach projects will be of a similar texture.

There will be reduced public access to these beaches and reserves during the work period, with construction planned during daytime hours to minimise disruption.