Wharf and Waterfront News
Waterfront repairs Stage 1a
Our last update provided details of the report that had been received on the waterfront, with a breakdown of the stages for works. With the water from on the town hall roof already remediated, the next step was a recommendation for urgent works to be carried out by the cannon and Butterfish. This resulted in a request by Far North Holdings on behalf of FNDC, for contractors to fix the waterfront in those two locations. The request had two parts: 1a) to repair the damage by the cannon and Butterfish and 1b) a beach push up of soft material. This first part of the request asked for proposals to repair the damage to the waterfront around the cannon and in front of Butterfish. Those proposals were reviewed by engineers, fully considered and a contract has now been let to do the work. In the next 4 weeks we will see activity on the foreshore bank and the beach immediately [...]
The Report on the Future of The Waterfront
The report was co-authored by Jim Dahm of Eco Nomos, the advisor and specialist in soft options management of coastal erosion and Rob Brown of Shore wise Engineering Consultants after an initial round of discussions with FNDC and FNHL leaders and local stakeholder interests. The report has 3 main recommendations: That the water of the roof of the Town Hall be diverted into the storm water system and that work has been completed by FNDC That urgent work be done to protect further damage to the cannon and the Butterfish site before the summer visitors begin to arrive as both site experience high use and need to be stabilised. In coming weeks, we will see activity on the beach front. This erosion has happened at these 2 points, and Far North District Council has agreed to fund some urgent remediation work. It will involve repairing and protecting the damaged bank and pushing up some soft material against the bank [...]
Town Hall downpipes
Many of you have realised that the water from the Town Hall roof is making a significant contribution to the erosion in front of the cannon. This critical issue was identified during the Placemaking project, and through the Destination Management Plan consultation. Thanks to the numerous locals who raised RFSs about the problem since last September, the Town Hall Committee, Chair Bruce, who took the FNDC CEO personally down to the site to show him the problem and how it was directly impacting the erosion and Jenny Shipley, Chair of local Destination Management Plan, who invited key local and national leaders to the site to see for themselves, the work is underway this week! This is Stage 1A for the erosion project. As a reminder, we had coastal erosion experts in town earlier in June, to examine the situation and explain what needed to happen to protect and restore our treasured waterfront. This report is expected back at the [...]
Coastal erosion experts visit Kororareka
Jim Dahm, a leading coastal erosion scientist, Rob Brown, a marine structural engineer, staff from Far North District Council and Far North Holdings and key leaders as well as Heritage NZ have been here looking carefully at the beach and foreshore erosion and assessing what is temporary erosion and if there is any new and permanent erosion with the purpose of coming up with recommendations the community can consider that will attempt to remediate the damage. They had a chance to meet some residents who grew up in Russell as children and the museum experts to share images and memories. They also met some organisation and business leaders, and the Russell Wharf Trust team. As an outcome of this visit, the goal now is to have drafted up options which would meet consenting requirements which will then be shared with the community, with key organisations and individuals to understand their opinions of the options and in due course move [...]
Coastal Process Assessment
Beach access was a high priority for the Placemaking projects, however FNDC advised that any work carried out on the beach and foreshore would be subject to Resource Consent from Northland Regional Council and comply with the District Plan Heritage Precinct zoning for this area. To move things forward, it was recommended by Far North Holdings, that a full Coastal Process Assessment be carried out, which would look at the tidal processes and weather for the past 50 years. The Wharf Trust and Placemaking Project agreed to contribute to the cost of this report, with Far North Holdings and the FNDC making up the balance. The Coastal Process Assessment report can be downloaded here and will be used for applying for Resource Consent for remedial works on the foreshore, a requirement before Beach access can be considered further.
Russell boat ramp and carpark
Several years ago, the original Wharf Trust Trustees asked Far North Holdings to improve the boat ramp carpark, a dusty metal surface, full of potholes, with no allocated trailer parks. The ramp and carpark are owned by the Far North District Council, but managed by Far North Holdings Ltd, meaning the Council funds the repairs and maintenance from our rates. With so many visitors using the boat ramp being visitors, i.e. people not paying rates, FNHL applied for government funding on behalf of FNDC to get the repairs done, with the Council putting in 50%. The application was successful, but by this time, the boat ramp also needed repair. The lower end of the ramp needed extending, so that boats could be retrieved on a low tide, without trailers dropping off the steep end, before reaching the right depth. FNHL went back to ask if they could spend half the money on upgrading the ramp as well, and this [...]
