Seawall replacement at Paekakariki

Notes from Community Meeting

7:30pm 3 December 2013

1. Attendees
The contacts sheet for the meeting recorded 39 people attending. Others attended but did not record their name.

2. Notes
Background was provided by Peter Handford. This included the outline in the attached flier for the meeting. It was stressed that a local design group had been assembled to develop some design ideas for seawall replacement. This group acknowledges that it has not been democratically established. The group has aimed to put forward some holistic design ideas that incorporate the values and concerns of the local community, to ensure they are taken into account in deciding on a final design. It does not wish to suggest these ideas have the support of the community. The aim of the public meeting was to put forward these ideas, obtain feedback and identify the level of support for these early design ideas. The introductory presentation also included overview of the following points: People involved in design group: The following people have been involved Matt Aitchison (KCDC), Miles Thompson, Bride Coe, Clive Anstey (landscape architect), Dale Wills, Iain Dawe (GWRC), Murray Williams, John Mills, Hamish Carson, Peter Handford, Graeme Coe Key values identified from earlier public meetings: These are the things that people as being important to protect. Environmental quality Sandy beach for walking at a range of tides Beach environment for recreation, quiet enjoyment etc is maintained and enhanced Vegetation and wildlife values maintained and enhanced Good walking access On beach & coastal protection structure Protect roadway Some notes on coastal geomorphology: Dr Iain Dawes from GWRC, who is a specialist in coastal geomorphology, was unable to attend. Peter Handford summarised some of the points that had been made by Iain, including:

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This area of coast has over long time periods gone through periods of deposition and erosion. It has been in a period of erosion for many years and this is likely to continue into the foreseeable future. Placing coastal protection structures on the foreshore does not stop erosion the processes continue, rather it protects things behind the structure and effects how the erosion occurs. Wave energy is dissipated by running up a slope and having material that it can move around. A sloping sand or pebble beach absorbs wave energy. A hard rock or wall structure reflects energy, creates turbulence and scouring etc. A beach needs to be continually nourished with sand material if it is to remain when erosion is occurring. Material in this area moves predominantly from the north. A lot of material is dropped in the lee of Kapiti Island resulting in the sand build up at Paraparaumu. Little material makes it to Paekakariki, so we tend to suffer ongoing erosion. Sea level changes with barometric pressure, and with storm surges (where the sea is blown up against the shore) and also with wave run up against the shore adding around 50% of wave height to this. This can result in sea level being raised by 1-2m during a storm, with large waves adding on to this. Current predictions of sea level rise due to climate change are for around 1m rise over 100years. Rates are around 2.03mm/yr when averaged over several decades. Rates appear to be accelerating. Rates over more recent time have been more in the order of 3.1mm/yr. We need to be planning for a 70-100mm sea level rise within a 20-30 year design life of a coastal structure.

Design criteria developed: The design group identified a series of criteria to be that it thought should be met by an acceptable seawall design. These were: Environmental quality maintained and enhanced Usable beach recreation space provided can walk, sit, play on beach Good quality walking access Protection of roadway / public assets for 30+ years from 1/100 yr storm event (1% probability) Flexibility can amend after 30 years $5million budget spread over a number of years

Early design ideas Features of the design concept that the group has come up with include: Staggered approach stepped wall and separate forward concrete wall and back rock protection to provide a less imposing structure and better access and public use. Access throughout length of the beach for able bodied people and at intervals with easier steps and occasional ramps for less mobile Vegetation incorporated in second tier rock area where it is only occasionally impacted by wave action. Vegetation not possible in lower area where regular wave action at high tide is likely.
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Maintain two lane traffic on Parade, but reduce width in places to provide a more pedestrian friendly environment and provide space for high level pathway on seaward side.

Concept drawings are attached. The four concept drawing show some different views of the design concept

3. Discussion and feedback

Key areas of feedback from the meeting included: Broad support for the general design ideas, - with the provisos and refinements included in points below. Need to do quick initial check of engineering and cost feasibility Avoid moving structures out on to beach Examine options to vary along the length so not the same all along beach, and expanse can be broken up. Like the nooks and crannies created by varying upper rock protection Need to avoid damage to areas near surf club where pingau has established when replacement work is undertaken. Use Unicef Building Blocks for kids to assist with design framework size of steps etc The layout along The Parade needs to be carefully examined so there is parking where it is needed (e.g. near Memorial Hall). Parallel parking is best, not angle parking as shown in drawing. Avoid having sharp concrete edges make them rounded Trial approaches and refine as construction continues Scale drawings need to be prepared Could have community input into vegetation establishment Need to have ongoing involvement of community through to preparation of specifications for tender

There was considerable discussion about consultation and whether further community consultation was required prior to the designs being submitted to community board for their support. The community board may choose to undertake some additional community contact, obtain feedback prior to their next meeting in late January. The steps from here through to starting seawall replacement were discussed. This has not been confirmed by KCDC, but is likely to involve the following steps: 1. Formal decision by community board on supporting the design ideas put forward at the meeting. 2. Initial engineering etc design and preparation of resource consent by KCDC 3. Resource consent process and obtain resource consent. 4. Begin staged construction work (likely to be sections done each year for a number of years).
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If we can work collaboratively and agree a design that would work for us as a community then this is likely to result in a smoother resource consent process and less cost for everyone. Concern was expressed that there could be various compromises and changes to original design ideas between the ideas being put forward and a contracts being let for construction. There will inevitably be various cost and other tradeoffs, but it is important that the com munity has a seat at the table during this design refinement. This will continue the collaborative work with council and ensure a practical final outcome that doesnt lose our key design ideas.

4. Actions
Arrange with KCDC staff for quick early work on engineering feasibility and broad costing to check potential of design ideas put forward. This to be done prior to community board meeting on 28 January 2014. [update Matt Aitchison from KCDC is working with their consultants to provide this]. Design ideas and early feasibility work will be presented to the community board at the 28 January meeting and a decision made on whether the board will support these ideas. The community board may undertake additional community contact / consultation prior to the January meeting.

Minutes prepared by Peter Handford, 27/12/13

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Attachment 1: Concept Drawings

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Attachment 2: Flyer for public meeting

Seawall replacement at Paekakariki

Community driven collaborative design process
A bit of background
Paekakariki Beach is a huge part of why we all enjoy living here. So when, in March 2013, Kapiti Coast District Council began discussing replacement of the wooden seawall north of The Sandtrack, there was community concern about the speed of the process and that we could end up with a seawall that didnt take account of local concerns. A council meeting was held on 18 May 2013 at Memorial Hall and early information was presented. Later, a group of Paekakariki residents met at St Peters Hall to discuss concerns and how to move forward. We concluded that it would be good to put together a local design team of volunteers and experts to work with council on our options. The idea was to make sure that holistic design option(s) are put forward that take into account the range of values and concerns that had been expressed by the Paekakariki community. KCDC have been very supportive of this process and the timeline has been extended significantly to allow more effective design and community involvement.

Whats happened so far

The design group has met 3 times to work through the following: Key values to be managed (as identified from earlier public meetings) Design criteria things that need to be part of the design Coming up with some early design ideas

The group includes 5-6 local volunteers including an ecologist, wildlife specialist and builder. It has also included a landscape architect, plus the KCDC engineer Matt Aitchison and Greater Wellington Regional Council Coastal Geomorphology expert Iain Dawe.

Public meeting
We would now like to invite you to a meeting Tuesday 3 December at 7:30pm, at St Peters

Hall to:
Talk through the process we have followed to date Ensure we pick up any key issues that werent raised in earlier public meetings Talk through the ideas we have developed and how we have got to them Pick up key feedback that we could incorporate into future design refinements Please come!
If you want to make contact about this initiative please contact: Peter Handford, 021 0623397, peter.handford@groundtruth.co.nz

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