Work on the backstop wall at Brophy's Beach in Whitianga is likely to start in March, subject to resource consents being issued for the construction.

The Thames Coromandel District Council had hoped to start before Christmas but various issues have held up the process which means the starting date will be pushed back to next year.

Dune planting to help reduce coastal erosion at Buffalo Beach, Whitianga, carried out last year. Photo: File

The notified consent process and supplying additional requested information has taken longer than expected, meaning the wall is now estimated to be completed by the end of April 2015.

The new geotextile bag wall is part of planned work to help with coastal protection at Brophy's Beach.

This is because the existing rock wall, which is not consented, was put in under emergency and needs replacing.

Acting Mercury Bay Area office manager Len Whittaker says once approved consent is received they can order the extra geotextile bags to start getting on with the physical work.

'At the same time we will put out the tender for the physical work."

This physical work entails excavating a footing and the geotextile bags filled with beach sand will then be laid to form a wall.

Once completed, the top of the wall will be covered with some minor dune planting work.

Construction of the Brophy's Beach backstop wall will take about six weeks and while work is underway some sections of Brophy's Beach reserve will be temporarily closed.

'Protecting our coast is a really important issue for the Coromandel,” says Len. 'Coastal protection work on Cooks Beach and Buffalo Beach are also waiting for TCDC consents to be issued and once these have been gained, work should be able to start in March too.”

The Buffalo Beach project involves extending the rock wall by another 120m, from just past the toilets, opposite Halligan Road, to just past the Buffalo Monument.

While the Cooks Beach project involves extending the recently completed private wall in front of the houses by a further 140m south.

This will extend the protection provided by the wall, from the last house adjacent the Purangi Reserve to past the newly relocated Cooks Monument.

To learn more about the TCDC's Costal Protection Works visit: www.tcdc.govt.nz/coastalmanagement