Machine to clean Auckland's popular Takapuna beach could put it at risk: Councillor

Tuesday, 9 January 2018

While some residents would like Takapuna Beach kept clean of seaweed, coastal scientists say it should be left there, councillor Chris Darby tells Stuff North Shore news director Jodi Yeats.

Many Aucklanders would like a machine to regularly clear popular Takapuna Beach of seaweed, but a councillor says that would lead to erosion.

On several occasions, members of the public have asked for the beach to be cleared of seaweed, and requested a machine be used, as happens at some city beaches.

'Takapuna is not a Mission Bay, The structure of the beach is different. If you remove all the seaweeds on a regular basis, you actually take away what holds your beach together, as well. It is that organic matter, combined with sand, which binds your beach berm together,' North Shore councillor Chris Darby said.

There have been calls for a machine to remove seaweed from Takapuna Beach, but a councillor warns that could cause erosion.

Many coastal scientists say taking away seaweed regularly puts the beach at much further risk of erosion, and elected officials have to heed their advice, Darby said.

Narrowneck Beach was hit hard by gale force winds and surging water in the New Year's storm and North Shore councillor Chris Darby concedes there is a case for cleaning up seaweed after a big storm.

After a winter storm washed a large amount of seaweed onto Takapuna Beach last July, Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member George Wood asked council to clean it up, but was told it would cost thousands of dollars.

A later statement clarified that, given the cost and the likelihood seaweed will quickly reappear, Auckland Council generally waited to see if the tide would do the job for them and naturally wash away the mess.

Devonport residents get creative after last week's storm washes seaweed and other debris onto Cheltenham Beach.

'You can take litter away, but it is not a good idea to take the organic seaweed away, other than when you get significant seaweed arrivals from big north-easterlies,' Darby conceded.