Climate change plans to keep Makara safe
Recommendations
A plan has been devised to help safeguard the Wellington seaside village of Makara Beach from future severe weather events after it was left scarred by ex-Cyclone Gita.
Wellington City Council may also reuse the same climate change consultation process it went through at Makara Beach to create similar plans for the city’s other coastal suburbs.
Makara Beach was pummelled by ex-Cyclone Gita in February 2018 when an aggressive storm surge swept logs, rocks and sand through the village, flooding homes and destroying property.
A recommendation document stemming from recent consultation between the council and community has suggested gravel renourishment be used to increase the height and width of the beach crest, providing extra protection in storm events.
‘‘Sea-level rise over the longer term would require an ever increasing supply of gravel with increasing residual risks in the event of failure,’’ the document says.
Long term, it would mean the construction of a sea wall.
The Makara estuary and river were also subject to risks caused by rising sea levels and extreme weather.
Recommendations include regularly removing gravel at the river mouth, and prior to storms, placing it on a crest adjacent to the beach.
Medium term, the construction of a wall and riverbank reinforcement would prevent damage during flood.
Ultimately, it will be Wellington city councillors who decide which recommendations get funded and who pays for what. Costs are not set yet.
Makara Beach resident Brett Marley, who owns the Makara Beach Cafe and has been snorkelling and diving there for about 35 years, said some residents were sceptical about the process when faced with a range of views from people with different backgrounds.
‘‘But the way the process was set out, when we came down to the nitty gritty, the solutions were obvious,’’ he said.
‘‘It gives the community some peace of mind. It’s based on the best advice we’ve had.’’
He had watched the amount of shingle on the beach reduce over time.
‘‘Evidence would suggest that beach nourishment will protect us against that.’’
The community committed to Beach
❚ Short-term: Raise the beach crest level and improve floodwater management/drainage.
❚ Medium-term: Increase the beach crest height/width in response to sea-level rise.
❚ Long-term: Construct a sea wall.
River
❚ Short-term: Remove gravel at the river mouth and place on crest of main beach.
❚ Medium-term: Construct impermeable structure riverbank reinforcement and wall to protect against inundation and erosion.
❚ Long-term: Maintain and upgrade wall as required.
about eight meetings, mostly in the evenings, to devise the climate change plan, Marley said. ‘‘It was an enlightening process in terms of the information we were given. We were all really invested in it.’’