A drone will be deployed along the Evans Bay coastline today taking images to help design stronger sections of seawall, and new bike and walking paths, Wellington City Council has announced.
The planned improvements between Weka Bay and Little Karaka Bay are part of plans for a citywide network of safe bike and scooting routes – making it easier to get around in low carbon ways, and making the section of coastline more resilient to storms and sea-level rise, Council said.
Weather permitting, the aerial survey will start around midday today and take approximately an hour.
The remote-controlled drone will be flying relatively low at about 42 metres above the ground in line with air traffic control guidance. It will take images from the low tide mark, over the rocks, seawall, footpath and road as far as the property boundaries. It will not be flying over private properties.
Council engineer and project manager, Jone Sumasafu says the drone will help the design team gather accurate information on terrain, levels and above-ground features including rocks and vegetation.
“It’s being done around low tide and will be particularly useful to get a good picture and information on the harder-to-reach areas.”
Major work was done to upgrade and build new sections of seawall around Ōmarukaikuru/Pt Jerningham as part of the development of the new walking and bike paths.
Where required, more seawall strengthening and improvements are planned in conjunction with the construction of the remaining 760m section of new paths between Weka Bay and Little Karaka, Council said.
“Ground-based survey work is also planned. This is expected to start next week and take about four days. Cardno NZ will undertake the aerial and ground surveys.”
Council says further investigation work will be carried out in coming months to gather below ground information about soil and rock conditions, and the exact location of underground services.
