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Papakura Courier : May 16th 2012
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www.aucklandnow.co.nz Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Normally $900 $499 plus GST Professionally produced video connected in print & online Locally Full video production -- scripting, filming, editing Acopyonyourwebsite AcopyonDVD AcopyonYouTube Contact your Papakura Courier representative for a demo: Phone 09 272 7017 www.papakuracourier.co.nz Homes on the edge By MELISSA KINEALY Slipping away: Worsening erosion is a big worry for, from left: Former Papakura district councillor and Karaka Harbourside resident Glenn Archibald, Papakura Local Board member Brent Catchpole and resident Regan Frost. Photo: SHANE WENZLICK Go to papakuracourier. co.nz and click on Latest Edition to see a video about Karaka Harbourside. A PRIME waterfront devel- opment is gradually slipping into the sea as erosion claims the land in front of beachside homes. Property owners at Ka- raka Harbourside on the Manukau Harbour are extremely concerned about the damage near their houses. Resident Regan Frost says his family moved into its new home in September 2008 and started to notice the erosion from the begin- ning of 2009. He wasn t worried when he bought the $650,000 sec- tion, he says. But since it started it hasn t stopped. Earth, plants, stumps of trees, dirt and concrete have slipped down the bank into the harbour. I can t understand why they haven t fixed it, Mr Frost says. It s obvious they have a problem. The ground is actually pretty loose. If you give it a kick it will just fall away. He tried to sell his house before Christmas last year but all of the interested buyers raised the issue of the eroding bank. Once it looks like this, we will never be able to sell, Mr Frost says. Signs are dotted around the bank warning people to keep off. We worry about it for our kids, Mr Frost says. He won t let his three young children get too close to the edge. Neighbour John Killeen paid $700,000 for his section and moved into his new home in March 2010. He gets concerned when he sees kids sitting on the tree stumps near the water s edge and playing by the bank. I would like to see some- thing done about the bank. This place is a real asset to the town. His neighbour Glenn Archibald, a former Papa- kura district councillor, lives further back from the water s edge. He has been pursuing the issue with the Papakura Local Board. The matter stretches back to when he tried to get an- swers when he was a coun- cillor, he says. Having been part of it, you don t just walk away. The problem is getting worse and the more rain there is, the worse it is, he says. Concrete edging on the walkway has slipped away and he points out cracks in the earth and concrete sur- rounding a park bench. The seat will soon be at the bottom of the cliff if nothing happens. The local board agreed to push the issue with Auck- land Council when Mr Archibald raised the matter again at its meeting last week. Board member Brent Catchpole says it s easy to see the ground is getting waterlogged and tidal action is washing away the earth. Mr Catchpole wants par- ticular departments in Auckland Council to stop messing around and update the board on any future works. Karaka Harbourside dev- eloper Ian Ross says he was told 12 years ago he couldn t build a retaining wall to stop erosion because the former local authorities wanted the water s edge left in a natural state. I would like to see it fixed, he says. AUCKLAND COUNCIL SOLUTION Auckland Council local and sports parks manager Mark Bowater says staff are aware of the issues at Karaka Harbourside and are now working on a design and construction plan to resolve it. He expects that to be completed this month. ''We will be undertaking the physical works shortly after this,'' Mr Bowater says. There have been issues with slumping where the path and surrounding reserve area aren't controlling water run-off, he says. At low points along the bank the earth is getting heavy and the bank is failing and slipping into the harbour. ''We're looking to create some areas of toe support -- protection at the base of the coastal bank -- putting in a swale along the path to better direct the water and appropriate coastal planting of the slopes to assist with stabilisation. ''This method will ensure the cliff face keeps its natural landform, in keeping with the district plan, and also effectively stabilises it.''
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