Southern seawall renewal

Wellington Airport is investigating options for renewing our southern seawall which protects vital infrastructure against erosion and inundation.

This seawall was constructed in 1972 and engineering advice and peer reviews have confirmed it is reaching the end of its functional life and needs replacing. This work is essential given rising sea levels and the increased frequency and severity of storms.

As well as protecting the airport, it also protects Moa Point Road, Moa Point Road tunnel, stormwater infrastructure and major sewage pipes to the Moa point wastewater treatment plant which treats most of Wellington’s sewage.

In 2023 we began public consultation on options for the southern seawall. Following public consultation and research , we are now seeking resource consent to overlay the existing southern seawall with large armour units (with the exact size and shape to be determined during design), and rock. Thank you to everyone who took part in our survey, attended a community meeting and/or sent us feedback.

In order to maintain the integrity of the existing seawall, the new armour units will be overlaid on top of the existing structure. The width of the seawall will therefore extend seaward by approximately 25 metres, and the length of the seawall will extend eastwards approximately 100 metres to cover a section of coastline currently unprotected (marked above as ‘eastern area’).

We are also commissioning assessments into any other environmental effects this project could have, including (but not limited to):

• landscape and visual amenity
• marine ecology
• avifauna (birds)
• cultural values
• archaeological and heritage values
• construction noise, vibration and transportation
• coastal processes
• economic impacts

Consenting process

In 2024 this project was listed in schedule 2A of the Government’s proposed fast track legislation. This could enable the project to be processed in a more timely and cost-efficient way, while still ensuring all appropriate environmental considerations are taken into account.

We will continue to go through a rigorous and careful process and communicate closely with the local community, iwi and stakeholders.

Further timings

The construction is dependent on the earlier stages of planning, design and consent. Subject to consent approval, enabling works to facilitate construction could begin in 2026.

This is a major project with different stages to work through. Construction itself is likely to span across multiple years including enabling works in advance of the main project .

As indicated in earlier consultation, we are likely to use the southern half of Miramar Golf Course for construction laydown areas, and the casting and storage of armour units and rock. This land came into possession of the airport on 1 January 2025.

Impacts on local residents

Construction methodology is still to be confirmed, but once underway the work is likely to involve temporary lane and/or road closures around the area, increased heavy traffic at times and some construction related noise.

As with all airport projects, we will keep the community informed and will have specific plans to minimise noise and disruption as much as possible.

Further information

Further detail is available in this publication here, and more detailed designs of the options are available in this presentation which were discussed at two public meetings in 2023.

Please feel free to send us any questions, comments or feedback via wellingtonairport@wellingtonairport.co.nz.