One person who works as a volunteer for plantings wanted to know the ‘right’ plants vs weeds. Getting the correct native eco-systems established.
Two representatives from the local Sea Cadets spoke about how the accretion of sand has led to the shallows along Petone beach extending further out. You can now walk out about 200 –300 meters in waist high water.
Sea shelf deposits creeping closer to Petone Wharf. The steps leading down from the wharf are now above the low tide mark.
The need to maintain boat access so boats don’t run aground due to the shallow water further out from shore.
Sand blown from the beach onto cars parked in some of the streets. Are the dune plantings a factor in this? Can dune planting/extension protect properties in from the beach front from sand nuisance?
Dredging in the river is causing the beach to become stony.
GNS is involved in accretion monitoring of the beach.
Is there a legal boundary along the beach front for building? There is a jurisdictional boundary that is monitored by the local and regional council.
What are the issues/challenges facing Petone Beach?
Stormwater drains at the end of the beach get clogged up with sand.
Rubbish.
Restoring the dunes.
Will the ‘shingle slug’ now affecting Eastbourne beaches reach Petone?
Traffic on the esplanade.
Rubbish by the wharf.
Amount of sand blown along Beach Street is huge compared to Nelson Street which has plantings on the beach area.
The sea wall has removed a lot of interest from that part of the beach.
Landscaping – needs revamping in places to tie in more with the beach. i.e. between the Boat Club and Jetty Café.
Access across the busy Esplanade.
Possible development at the Eastern end on the foreshore.
Having more people understand the beach process.
Needs better links: more crossings and pedestrian access.
Maintenance i.e. rubbish collection, lawn mowing. All a bit scruffy at present.
Rubbish – a by-product of this is rats, mice and rabbits.
Existence of old drains.
Drifts from river and also from the natural increment of sand that will match the reclamation on the eastern side of the river.
Usually too windy to be pleasant to sit on the beach.
Rubbish – is the beach too accessible for cars.
Prominence of foreshore road.
Vehicles are kept off the beach.
When structures are put in place they are maintained i.e. boardwalk to the beach.
Keeping the wind from shifting the sand north along the streets. That is why the concrete wall was built in 1930’s. It worked!
Human effects: litter, trampling plants, dog faeces.
What do you value about Petone Beach?
The more natural areas at each end.
Great place to walk, run, and contemplate. Always different.
The number of people who walk along the beach, sand and footpath areas.
The native plants: Pingao, Spinifex, Rover Spinach (Tetra gonia tetragoniodes).
Great place to walk the dog. Slightly wild/rough. Multi-use beach.
No rocks makes it very safe and user friendly for boats, windsurfers etc.
The wharf.
Free access.
People’s enjoyment.
Its natural resources. (This is mentioned several times)
Naturalness, landscaping, space, clear water views.
Barbeque areas, cycling, walking, swimming.
Having it available.
Good for dogs.
Good beach for blow carts and windsurfing in a southerly.
Playground at east end.
Natural beach. Access for all.
It provides seaweed gathering for gardens and kaimoana (shellfish, flounder etc.).
What would you like to see achieved at Petone Beach (Desired outcomes)?
Sieving of beach at eastern end to remove stones.
Maintain value as sailing beach – needs deep water no too far out.
Further native plantings e.g. Coprosma acerose. Weed control, remove marram grass.
Main beach gazetted under the Reserves Act.
Sand dunes with native vegetation – all Petone beach.
Mural showing native species that can be found on the beach. Like the one in Oriental Bay.
No further development on the sea side of The Esplanade.
Areas providing shelter from northerly winds which sweeps along the beach. Could be from ‘islands’ of trees.
Some interpretation boards erected – history, plants, bird life.
Protect food gathering values.
User friendly.
Legal reserve status for beach fronts.
A dune system along entire length of sea wall.
No development sea side of rocks.
Create areas where driftwood fires are allowed – maybe still by permit.
Removal of Korokoro reclamation.
Sand catching plants right along the beach. With emphasis on end of streets such as Beach Street.
Plantings to section off road from the beach front.
Rubbish removed regularly and bins emptied more than once a day. No need to give the rats takeaways!
Improve and increase the number of toilets. Need a toilet block at the wharf. Trees for shade for picnickers.
Maintain dog exercise areas – or expand them.
How can we stop the rubbish ending up at the beach on rubbish day?