Te Rauone Beach Restoration Plans on Display

The Dunedin City Council and Port Otago Ltd today announced a significant investment program to restore and develop the Te Rauone beach and reserve over the next three years.

During the past century, the sea has eroded the beach, causing significant issues for the environment and community. The adjoining reserve is the only public area available to the Otakou and the lower Peninsula community and is popular for recreation and viewing ships.

Commenting the latest announcement, DCC Chief Executive Officer, Sue Bidrose, said: “Te Rauone, on the Otago Peninsula, is a site that has rich Maori heritage and historical significance for Dunedin. We are really pleased to be involved in this project and will be responsible for designing and developing a dramatically improved reserve for locals and visitors alike.

“I have made a couple of visits to the reserve in recent times. Some of the facilities have seen better days and so a redevelopment in partnership with the local community has to be the best way forward.”

Port Otago Ltd Chief Executive, Kevin Winders, added that the port’s investment will focus on re-instating the beach and its ongoing maintenance.

The project will be overseen by a working party, which includes DCC and Port Otago staff, as well as representatives from the local runanga, the Te Rauone Beach Coast Care Committee and the Otago Peninsula Community Board.

In coming months, the local community will be invited to workshops to discuss what they would like to see included in the reserve project design.

The project will be carried out in three phases.

• Design work and start development of the reserve;
• Obtain consent and build the three groyne structures that will protect the beach;
• Ongoing sand replenishment of the beach.

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