Background
It’s been more than 20 years since the Oriental Bay Beach Enhancement project was completed in 2003.
That project placed 16,100 m³ of sand imported from the Wainui Inlet in Golden Bay across Main Beach, Freyberg Beach and East Beach.
Effective, natural processes meant sand was always expected to be lost over time at a rate of 100–400 m³ per year. By 2014, sand levels had dropped as expected.
The first replenishment happened in 2015, when 2,400 tonnes (around 1,400 m³) of pale sand from Dunedin was added to restore the beach to its 2003 design profile.
As of September 2024, sand levels have again returned to pre-2015 levels. Monitoring shows the beach berms can’t be reinstated to earlier heights, and reports in recent years have recommended another replenishment.
Wellington City Council is now carrying out a second replenishment to restore sand volumes to their original design.
Timing and access
- Work starts on Monday 29 September 2025 and will take about three weeks.
- There will be limited access and some temporary closures on the beaches while sand is stored and shifted into place.
- Please follow onsite signage and instructions for your safety.
Why the sand is disappearing
Sand movement is caused by:
- wave motion and currents
- stormwater discharge
- strong onshore winds blowing sand away
- sea level rise changing the beach profile
- gradual changes in the sand grade compared with the original material.
How the sand gets here
In 2015, about 100 containers of sand were transported from Dunedin by rail and ferry to Wellington, then trucked to Oriental Bay where the sand was stockpiled before being spread.
This year’s replenishment will follow a similar process.
Cost
The cost for this project is approximately $790,000. This is for the sand, transport and the work involved in spreading the sand.
Contact us
For more information about the project contact Joel de Boer.
Email: joel.deboer@wcc.govt.nz