Wave Defence System still a goer, despite failure

by Louise Parry

The current wave defence system will continue being used in the Windy Point construction of Tupua Horo Nuku, despite its failure during a recent storm.

During public comment at this week's Eastbourne Community Board meeting, ex-ECB chair Ginny Horrocks said the community wanted more information about the construction of the shared path.

There had been "mad rumours", including that the seawall will be carried right through Days Bay, she said.

Construction manager John Pritchard said the wave defence system suffered a "minor failure" in November which resulted in it being removed.

The system, which is usually used for flood protection, is being used to hold back water from the new Windy Point foundations – a first in the world.

The system, which was under 2m tall, failed to hold the sea back from the construction site and, because of a lack of staff, its skeleton had not been removed when a weather bomb which was "worse than we expected" made it too dangerous to continue.

“We had some dramas,” Mr Pritchard said.

ECB member Emily Keddell questioned why the system failed. "I don't recall a huge storm," she said.

Mr Pritchard said a combination of high tides and big swells had applied pressure both to the front and back of the structure.

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