Browns Bay locals believe 'danger is imminent' from house dangling over eroding clifftop

Caroline Williams Reporter from North Shore Times

Tēnā koutou neighbours. Browns Bay locals fear property on the edge of an eroding cliff will soon collapse onto the popular beach below, as the property owner battles a lengthy resource consent process to stabilise the site.

The property on Beechwood Rd in Rothesay Bay was issued a dangerous building notice in September 2020 following a spate of slips which sent boulders, fencing and a mature pōhutukawa tree tumbling down onto Browns Bay Beach.

The notice did not apply to the house, but decking, fencing and concrete piles - some of which protrude over the edge of the cliff.

Auckland Council previously told Stuff it was satisfied two houses near the cliff’s edge were not at risk, however regular beach-goer Paul Jury said pipes, balustrades, orange safety fencing, a second pōhutukawa tree and bits of concrete continue to pile up on the beach.

Jury believed it was only a matter of time until “something serious” fell down the cliff during a storm or strong winds.

The owners of the property atop the cliff had applied for resource consent to repair and stabilise the site, but this was taking longer than expected "due to the complexity of the site access and the work required", Auckland Council’s David Pawson said.

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