Access cut to nudist beach
An east Auckland nudist beach is set to lose its public walkway.
The walkway, extending from Glover Park to Gentlemen’s Bay in the desirable suburb of St Heliers, will be removed at a cost of $38,000 due to erosion and unstable ground conditions.
Public access to Gentlemen’s Bay will remain available from neighbouring Ladies Bay and Karaka Bay but only at low tide.
Gentlemen’s Bay is located below Glover Park between Achilles Pt and West Tamaki Pt at the coastal edge of St Heliers.
The small, sheltered bay with views across the Waitemata Harbour is well known as one of Auckland’s male nudist beaches.
The land around the steps leading down to the beach has a history of slippage and coastal erosion and has been closed since 2006 due to safety issues.
However, people have continued to bypass orange hazard mesh fencing blocking the path, to walk to the beach via the Glover Park entrance.
On Thursday the Orakei Local Board approved for the pathway to be dismantled and permanently blocked off with planting.
Orakei Local Board chairman Colin Davis said the access had become dangerous.
‘‘This cliff area is subject to erosion and the ground is unstable,’’ Davis said.
‘‘The board had a legal duty to warn people of potential risks and decided for safety reasons to close the access and remove the steps to the walkway,’’ he said.
A geotech report said repairing the pathway would cost upwards of $500,000.
‘‘This cliff area is subject to erosion and the ground is unstable’’