Avana coastal protection project
Avana, Rarotonga – Cook Islands
Dates : 2021
Project leader : Te Ipukarea Society
Classification
Risks
Solutions
Actors
Costs
Summary
The Avana coastal protection project consists in the installation of geotextile sandbags along an area of coastline experiencing extreme erosion, currently protected by large granite boulders. These installations were supplemented by the planting of coastal vines, vetiver grass and native trees, to add additional layers of coastal protection in the event of bag failure. The objective is to mitigate the erosion and protect the inland.
Actions
The Avana coastal protection project consists in the installation of geotextile sandbags along an area of coastline experiencing extreme erosion. To do so, a team of contractors worked for a month to dredge out the sand and fill the bags. In parallel, the team reproduced this experience with crushed glass that is coming in large amounts into the landfill.
The installation of sandbags was supplemented by the planting of coastal vines, vetiver grass and native trees. The planting operation was conducted for a week. The purpose of this planting operation was to anticipate situations of bag failures.
In addition to these concrete responses, the project includes communication and sensibilization activities. Several interviews were conducted and articles written, while the team was very active on social media.
Outcome
The use of geotextile sandbags was the first experience of this kind conducted in the Cook Islands. So far results are promising as the sandbags seem to work while the vegetation is growing well.
In addition, the project received a lot of attention from local media and the population. For instance, some inhabitants started to use vetiver grass as a result of this operation.
Mobilizing engineering expertise to design the project and the willingness of the contractors to try a new type of construction were essential to the project.
The amount of work to fill the bags was more than anticipated. The sand had to be trucked off site for screening out the larger rocks, and then trucked back to the site.
Partners
Technical partners: Te IPukarea Society
Financial partners:Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme – Global Grant for community-based climate change adaptation, Australian Government