St Clair ramp work to start this week

Dunedin (Monday, 31 August 2015) – Work to rebuild the temporary ramp at St Clair Beach is scheduled to start early this week.

Dunedin City Council Group Manager Parks, Recreation and Aquatics Richard Saunders says the work will ensure the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club and the public have access to the beach. It will also provide access for equipment when future remedial work on the sand dunes is carried out.

“It’s important to get the work underway now so the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club has rescue boat access to the beach before their season begins.”

A temporary ramp at the north end of the promenade was put in place in October 2013 after the original ramp was removed following storm damage. The temporary ramp has been damaged by recent heavy seas and high tides.

The exact starting date for the work will depend on the tides. The repair work will take three to four days and cost an estimated $25,000 to $30,000.

Mr Saunders says rebuilding the temporary ramp will provide access so remedial work can be carried out to protect the dunes from further erosion. The planned work includes repairing or replacing damaged sand sausages before next winter.

In the meantime, protection work at the ‘toe’ of the seawall will continue, as will dune reinstatement work, using sand dredged from the Otago Harbour.

Following the remedial works, the DCC will begin investigating options for long term protection of the area of Ocean Beach adjacent to St Clair sea wall.

Community feedback will be sought at key stages of the overall project.

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