The heritage wall has been temporarily patched up until a permanent solution has been decided. IMAGE: Hayley Gastmeier
ISLAND BAY residents have until November 10 to have their say in the fate of the damaged seawall that runs along its shoreline.
Locals have been meeting and debating over the 85 metre stretch of the heritage wall collapsed during a 2013 storm and the Wellington City Council put in place a temporary rock barrier.
Five options to cope with storm surges and predicted rise in sea levels have been put forward to the Island Bay community in three meetings with the council – and the mood in the community may be changing.
The public meetings with experts have been held to explore the proposals, but residents are also being asked to contribute ideas in submissions.
The five proposed options are:
- The status quo of rebuilding the broken section of the wall
- Rebuilding the wall and importing sand to act as a buffer
- Relocating the wall and road further inland to match the beaches natural contour
- Remove a section of the seawall, close part of The Esplanade in front of Shoreland Park so the park joins onto the beach
- Remove a section of the seawall, close some local roads and part of The Esplanade, linking the beach entirely with Shoreland Park
Option three won the most votes at the final community meeting on Saturday, with option four being the next preferred choice.
Councillor Paul Eagle says the mood within the community has changed since the first meeting earlier this month, where option one was voted most popular.
The main public concerns raised at the meetings were traffic increases and pedestrian safety, with the possible changes to roads and traffic flow with options four and five.
Resident Tracy Hall says if the park is joined onto the beach with no seawall, children will have no barrier to the ocean and that may increase incidents of drowning.
She also says re-directing traffic through residential streets around the park would be confusing and dangerous for pedestrians.
Ian Logan, a business owner on The Esplanade, and a resident in Island Bay of 55 years, says he is concerned if changes are made to the traffic then accidents will increase.
He prefers the first three options where traffic will stay the same, and will not disrupt his business.
Marion Findlay of the Wellington Southern Bays Historical Society says they are not taking a position, but urge people to think of the future.
Nina Cuccurullo says she was born in Island Bay and her grandfather probably saw the wall being built when he immigrated to Island Bay from Italy.
“From a heritage point of view we want to keep it,” she says.
“But there is the issue of the wall not being strong enough and the sea causing damage in the future.”
Zach Rissel, council programme manager for the consultation, says there will be a 10 to 20 year lifetime if the wall is repaired as is.
He says if people want both the road and the beach, with the rising sea levels they need to consider other options.
“A lot of different communities are facing similar situations,” says Mr Rissel.
Lisa McLaren, a policy intern at Wellington City Council, visited Island Bay School to present children with the proposed options. One class voted for option four, and other classes are putting in submissions to the council.
Mr Eagle says there are many things to consider, such as parking, traffic, heritage issues, costs, climate change, amenity issues and safe links between Shoreland Park and the beach.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Councillor Paul Eagle and Vicki Greco say the public consultation process has had positive results. IMAGE: Hayley Gastmeier
He says the mood of the community is reflecting option three, but many are also in favour of options four. There is a possibility that combining both these options over a staged period could work.The public consultations have been a great way for the council to communicate with the community says Mr Eagle.
“The meetings are only one channel in terms of people having their say.”
In mid-December the submissions will go forward to the environmental committee, which will choose the best ideas to be further developed and costed out. Then there will be further consultations with the public.
Vicki Greco, chair of the Island Bay Seawall Action Group, says they will ensure the communities voice is followed through and that the final decision reflects that voice.
“There’s been a really good public turn out,” she says.
Between 100 and 120 people turned up to each of the three meetings.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown attended the final meeting on Saturday and says Shoreland is a lovely park with a beautiful view to the Island.
“Whichever solution is chosen, people will still use it, and enjoy Island Bay.”
The Esplanade was originally established as part of the longest sea drive in the southern hemisphere, from Eastbourne to Owhiro Bay.
