Flaxmill Bay groynes

We want your views on the future management of coastal erosion at Flaxmill Bay, as a five‑year trial of geotextile groynes reaches its end.

Our Council began the Flaxmill Bay Coastal Erosion Trial in 2020 in response to ongoing erosion along the reserve. The trial included the installation of three geotextile groynes (sand‑filled structures extending into the beach) as well as monitoring and reporting on an annual basis.

Based on what has been learnt, our Council will be presenting three options for the local community to consider. Further details to come after the discussion session (details below).

Your feedback

We want to hear directly from people who live and own properties locally on what their preferred options are.

A discussion session will be held on Friday 1 May from 2pm - 4pm, at the Cooks Beach Community Hall, giving residents, beach users, mana whenua and other stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about the findings from the trial, ask questions, and provide feedback on the future options being considered.

Feedback will be collected via a survey on the day, and then available for wider community feedback after the session on this webpage.

This community input will play a key role in shaping the preferred direction for Flaxmill Bay.

What happens next

Following public engagement, staff will take the feedback and technical findings to the Mercury Bay Community Board for consideration, before progressing to Council for discussion and decision‑making.

Any preferred option will also need to consider resource consent requirements and potential funding through Council’s planning and budgeting processes.

Our aim is to find a long‑term, sustainable approach that protects the reserve and infrastructure while maintaining the natural character and recreational values that make Flaxmill Bay special.

Questions?

A list of frequently asked questions will be published after our public engagement session, along with more information about the preferred options and how you can share your feedback. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us at ourcoast.tcdc.govt.nz.

Why do we need to look after our dunes?

The dunes are the backbone of our beaches, the buffer between the land and the sea. Healthy dunes are wide, gently sloping and have many dune plants to help anchor them. We now know that native dune plants play a vital role in maintaining the dunes, binding light blowing sand onto the beach, and making stable sand dunes. Without these plants, the sand blows away and dunes disappear - leaving the land vulnerable to weather and wave surges.

The popularity of our beaches, changing climate, pests and development pressure are all affecting the health of our coast, particularly dunes. This makes the work of Coast Care groups even more important in making sure our beaches remain for many more years to come.

Dunes not only provide a buffer between land and sea, they also play an important role in New Zealand’s coastal biodiversity. We have a responsibility to make sure they are protected.

Watch the video series by Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand in which we explore the natural processes at work behind Aotearoa New Zealand's beautiful coastlines.