Kapiti Coast District Council has started work to strengthen a part of Raumati beachfront wall, aiming to protect the community from the risk of coastal erosion.

“Back in mid-2016, we built a temporary block wall along the Wharemauku Road beachfront, after the original wall was damaged during a bad storm,” said Council group manager infrastructure services Sean Mallon. “Over the next few months, we’ll be reinforcing and strengthening the wall so it’s more resilient and will provide better protection from the elements for a good few years.”

Mallon said the wall will provide stronger protection for the medium term and will eventually need to be re-assessed in future years.

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“Like many other councils around the country in similar coastal locations we have challenges ahead to continue to respond to these types of issues,” he noted. “We’ll be considering longer-term solutions for the Wharemauku wall as part of our work with Greater Wellington and others.”

He said disruption for traffic or residents would be minimal and beach access will not be affected.