High seas have eaten into sand dunes that stand between the ocean and an old buried landfill at Ocean Beach in Dunedin.
Dunedin City Council infrastructure services general manager Simon Drew said the council was "closely monitoring'' the situation, after sand along about 200m of sand dunes in front of Kettle Park was washed away.
The erosion had exposed rubble in front of the dunes, which had been placed there in 2007 as part of efforts to protect the old landfill under Kettle Park, he said.
The erosion was also undermining the clay cap which sits over the dunes, he said.
"The material exposed is not landfill material and there are no risks to people or the environment at this stage.
"What has been exposed is material such as concrete, bricks and rubble that was placed as a buffer to prevent the historic landfill being exposed.''
The council had already received expert advice, including from national specialists, to advise it on the "most appropriate approach'', he said.
Contractors would be on site tomorrow to remove exposed rubble that people could hurt themselves on, such as sharp rocks, he said.
However, the majority of material on the beach would be left there to help protect the dunes, he said.
It was expected sand levels would rise again in coming months, as summer returned, reducing the likelihood of rock, rubble and other materials being exposed and further erosion, he said.
The council had also already begun a review of the long-term approach to managing issues in the area, including the old landfill.
- Staff reporter
