Seawall designed to halt Freese Park erosion
Published on 18 May 2023
A seawall has now been built along a stretch of beach in Ōmāpere, the main structure of a project designed to halt erosion there. This marks the halfway point of the project to protect vulnerable land, including Freese Park Reserve, from being lost to the Hokianga Harbour. Erosion has already removed over 9m of land there in the past decade. The structure will ensure an entire section of the beach is protected by filling a gap between two existing seawalls.
The seawall runs for approximately 120m along the beach front and consists of large boulders placed on geo-technical fabric designed to stop earth from being washed into the ocean. Drainage for parts of the reserve is yet to be added. Landscaping and beach access will be constructed at the completion of the major physical works.
Halting erosion is crucial to prevent a council wastewater pipeline, public playground, toilets, and a carpark from being claimed by the tide. As well as protecting the council-owned Freese Park Reserve, the wall is designed to halt erosion of privately owned land at 7 Freese Park Road and 308 Hokianga Drive with the private property owners contributing financially to those sections of the wall.
Beach access from the playground will consist of a gravel pathway to the wharf path with a proposed ramp down to the beach.
The project began in late February and is expected to take four months, so should be completed by the end of June 2023.
