Eroded Sand Dunes Bear Watching

People are being warned to keep clear of sand dunes that have been eroded by the recent storms.

From Waiwhakaiho to Fitzroy, plus at Back Beach, the front of the dunes has been carved out by the recent big seas, leaving verticals faces of sand.

“Once the sand dries out these vertical faces will be prone to collapse,” says Acting Manager Parks Trevor Hornby.

“The last thing we want is for someone to be buried under collapsing sand – especially if that someone is a child – so we’re asking parents to keep an eye on their children at the beach and for everyone to keep a healthy distance from the sand dunes.”

While the sand dunes’ vertical faces will collapse naturally, council staff will evaluate them once the weather has settled to see if anything can be done to speed the process up, and remove the hazard to the public.