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Update Friday 12 July
- As work has now been completed to remove potential debris, access to the beach is now open. Please continue to be careful around the affected areas.
- The affected house has been removed, with final clean-up well underway.
- A second property has been moved back from the beachfront and any other at-risk structures are being removed or relocated.
- The bump stops (the strips at the front of car parking spaces) have been removed from the affected areas of the Surf Club car park, along with other debris.
- The car park remains partially closed and is being monitored.
- With further high tides expected, Council is monitoring future tidal conditions alongside Waikato Regional Council, to determine what actions may be needed.
- In addition to supporting homeowners work through the latest incident, staff will be meeting with the new Port Waikato Community Response Group regarding long-term planning to give an overview of the District Wide Resilience Project. The intention is to build on previous Port Waikato Resilience Project work, while discussing options for the settlement at Port Waikato with the wider community and mana whenua.
This Factsheet gives a summary of the erosion events of the last few days and activities and plans underway.
Update Wednesday 10 July 2024
- The affected house is currently being removed.
- Our staff are closely monitoring properties to assess their risk of instability and understand what plans they may have in place for their properties.
- While these properties remain at risk, people are advised to stay off the beach, particularly around the affected areas.
- The car park remains partially closed and is being regularly inspected for the risk of further erosion.
- The weather is expected to be stable over the next few days but, with further seasonal tides expected in around two weeks, staff are continuing to monitor and assess the situation.
Update Monday 8 July 2024
Due to increased erosion at Sunset Beach in Port Waikato after recent seasonal tides, Waikato District Council is temporarily closing access to the beach, except for emergency vehicles, until potential hazards can be removed.
The soil supporting the foundations of a property is being eroded away, putting it at risk of it falling onto the beach below.
Work is underway to safely remove the building.
“The safety of our community and visitors is our top priority, so we ask that people stay off the beach until further notice,” says Mayor Jacqui Church. “We know erosion and it’s impacts have been major concerns for Port Waikato individuals and families over the last decade and we’re working with the community to plan for the future.”
The car park at the Sunset Beach Surf Club is also partially cordoned off due to erosion concerns and is being monitored closely. We advise vehicles avoid the car park if possible.
Council will be monitoring and provide updates on this webpage.