Beach ‘lake’ causing concern
Some of Taranaki’s most expensive homes have unexpectedly had lake views added to their expansive outlook over the Tasman Sea.
However, residents of Ōakura’s Messenger Tce are not celebrating the convergence of the Wairau and Waimoku streams, both of which have been prevented from draining into the sea by a buildup of sand.
The residents are hoping the New Plymouth District Council will act to right the problem before someone finds themselves in trouble as a result of the rising water.
It is not the first time the issue has cropped up at Ōakura Beach. However, Neil Drought, who has lived above the popular North Taranaki beach for 24 years, said he had never seen it as bad before.
He now overlooks “a lake” stretching further and wider across the black sands.
“It’s all right if you want to be lakefront as well as seafront, I suppose.”
Drought said the district council usually addressed the issue by employing contractors to realign the paths of the streams.
“I talked to them last time they came down but they only had a 1½-tonne digger to do the job, which was a complete waste of time.”
He believed the lake had reached chest deep in some parts and he was concerned that someone, especially a child, could find themselves in trouble if they did not realise the volume of water they were playing in.
The council’s manager of parks and open spaces, Conrad Pattison, downplayed the issue.
“The natural movement of sand at Ōakura Beach means that a small lagoon is sometimes created on the beach, which is removed either by natural processes such as storms or by using a digger,” he said.
Pattison confirmed that the council had straightened the stream mouth just last month.
“We will check the beach after the coming storm to see if the lagoon has disappeared naturally; if not, we’ll re-evaluate our approach.”
He also confirmed that the council only received only one inquiry from a member of the public concerned about the lake forming on the beach.
Kaitake Community Board chairperson Graham Chard said he had been contacted by a concerned resident and was working with the council to get the diversion work done as soon as possible.
“The other concern we have is where the flow is occurring,” Chard said.
“Not only is there that huge amount of water there, which has the potential to cause a health and safety issue, there is also concern [that] if any flow increases it’s going to damage the sand dunes, which we have put a lot of time and effort into planting.”
New Plymouth Old Boys Surf Lifesaving Club spokesperson Jaynie Mcsweeney said the creation of a lake on the beach could become an issue if the boat ramp the club used for rescues became blocked.
“The council usually come and dig it out. But it’s got a mind of its own, that’s for sure.”
Other long-term residents spoken to by the Taranaki Daily News said they had not seen the amount of water that had built up on the beach before.