Steps could be in by Christmas
The $150,000 Back Beach steps project is under way and, weather permitting, could be finished before the holidays begin.
Signs erected at the beach say the step replacement and realignment will be carried out between November and midDecember, but New Plymouth District Council infrastructure manager David Langford said the dates were an estimate and dependant on the weather.
‘‘Our weather can often be unpredictable at this time of year, so is always factored into our plans,’’ he said in an emailed statement.
The council has previously said it expected the steps to be completed early next year.
The steps, which access the beach near the Sugar Loaf Islands, were removed in October last year after damage from ex-cyclone Gita and a king tide.
At the time, council officers recommended against reinstating the full staircase and a viewing platform was erected, at a cost of $7000.
However, the removal sparked howls of protest and the council officers’ recommendation was overruled by councillors, who voted to replace the steps.
Now, more than a year on, construction is under way and already smaller rocks have been put in place at the bottom of the ramp to help diggers get on to the sand and allow access to the northern end of the beach.
Langford said the public would also be warned before portions of the car park were closed during the construction period and this would only be for a few minutes at a time to load and unload equipment and materials.
A stormwater pipe on the side of the steps will also be upgraded as part of the project, which is budgeted from existing renewals reserves, Langford said.
Meanwhile, the trail from the top car park to the bottom has also recently been diverted, as the former trail was getting too close to the erosion-prone cliff.