Cyclone fallout: homeowners demand help

Homeowners who live on Marine Parade, Ōrewa are feeling angry, left out and ignored as Auckland Council’s sand replenishment and plans for other parts of Ōrewa Beach move forward. There are eight homes, including four in the Oceanside complex, that can only be accessed via Marine Parade, which goes along the beachfront.

Cyclone Gabrielle increased erosion of the reserve between the beach and the road, threatening that access.

Oceanside resident, Julia Stroud, addressed the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board on February 28, expressing anger and frustration at what residents say is a lack of Council action to remedy their situation.

“We have got signs along the front of our property saying ‘Danger’,” she told members. “We fear that retreat [from the shoreline] is the Council policy.”

Residents are seeking sand replenishment as a buffer without delay, before any potential winter storms, as well as replacement for steps to the beach that are now unusable.

Longer term remedies to shore up the road will be more complex as this part of the beach is also affected by stormwater runoff from developments further up the catchment in North Ōrewa.

The Stroud’s neighbours, Jean and John Bungey are also concerned. John says Council has “a duty of care” because it owns the road and consented the development to the north. He says the reserve is used by the public, and also needs protection.

At the local board meeting, the option of privately funded structures on the beachfront was raised.

The Strouds are unsure whether the body corporate of their complex would be prepared to pay for its own sea defences. Residents of the Ocean Point complex, which fronts onto where the seawall will be built between Kohu St and Marine View, are grappling with the same issues – the need for some immediate restoration and stabilisation work, and who will pay for it.

Ken Elley of Ocean Point’s body corporate says they have a responsibility to their property owners to investigate options and costs. “But we are looking to Council for leadership,” he says.

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board deputy chair Julia Parfitt is clear that Council cannot build seawalls simply to protect private property – there has to be a public asset involved. In the Marine Parade case, there is a public reserve and road in front of homes, with emergency access to properties

Water charges go up 9.5%

Watercare has confirmed Auckland’s water and wastewater service prices will increase by 9.5 percent from July 1. This follows the price path included in Auckland Council’s Long-Term Plan which was adopted in June 2021, after public consultation. Watercare chief executive Dave Chambers says since the board approved the price path there have been significant challenges, including high inflation and extreme weather events ranging from drought to the recent floods. “However, we know many people are facing financial strain, so that is why we’re sticking with the price path we communicated in 2021 as part of Auckland Council’s LongTerm Plan,” he said. Water and wastewater service charges will increase by 9.5 percent, and infrastructure growth charges by 8 percent. The price for 1000 litres of water will go from $1.825 to $1.998, while 1000 litres of wastewater will go from $3.174 to $3.476. The fixed wastewater charge will go from $264 a year to $289. Customers are encouraged to get in touch with Watercare if they’re struggling to pay their bills. Flexible payment plans or referral to the Water Utility Consumer Assistance Trust, are options for customers suffering hardship.

Public transport fares rise

a key concern. The local board asked the Community Facilities division of Council to look into vehicular access to properties on Marine Parade and report back. At the same time, Parfitt says, residents elsewhere on the Coast are taking matters into their own hands.

She says the number of residents seeking resource consent to build or replace private seawalls is increasing, with two recently seeking consent on Whangaparāoa beaches.

Cr Wayne Walker was also approached by the Oceanside residents. He says changes need to be made because the catchment plan and modelling for Ōrewa is out of date.

“However, there is only so much money to play with and although some people may not like it, we may need to consider managed retreat and sand shifting. He says more sand could potentially be shifted because of the amount now piling up from runoff into Ōrewa Estuary.

“Construction is also exacerbating stormwater runoff, at Nukumea Stream, for example, Cr Walker says. “A whole of Ōrewa approach is needed.”

Public transport fares in Auckland will rise by around 6.5 percent from April 2. Auckland Transport (AT) says the fare increase, the first in two years, will add no more than 20 cents per journey while the Government’s half price fare support remains in place. AT interim chief executive, Mark Lambert, says operating costs have increased significantly since 2021, and the number of passengers using public transport has reduced. “This leaves a significant funding gap, and we are seeking funding from multiple sources but unfortunately a small percentage has to be covered by customers,” he says. Short distance fares increase by around 8 percent and longer distance fares by 3 percent to 5 percent with some outer zone fares remaining at current levels, reflecting what Lambert says is AT’s desire to make public transport more accessible for Aucklanders who need to travel further. Lambert acknowledges that it has been a challenging time for public transport customers – “with significant bus driver and ferry crew shortages, the level of service has simply not been the same as our customers are used to,” he says. “I want to assure Auckland that we are doing everything possible to get public transport back on track.” Fares are reduced to halfprice through central government funding support until June 30.

Wayne Brown, Mayor of Auckland wayne.brown@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz