Oak Island leaders to meet about beach renourishment project

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — A $3 million dredging contract – that is what the town of Oak Island is hoping to approve at tonight’s council meeting. Town Manager Steve Foster said it’s coming not a moment too soon.

“This is a project that generally takes 18 months, but due to the severity of the erosion that we currently have, we’ve been able to compress it down into a six months project,” Foster said.

This is no small job.

“Let’s see – it’d be a 100,080 yards of sand for the beach,” Foster said.

Eight houses would directly be affected by the project, but that’s not all. Foster said there are numerous other homes that are currently at risk, as well as a road damaged by erosion.

“I think this is going to be a beneficial thing for the town,” Foster said. “It’s something that’s certainly going to benefit the environment. It’ll help the people out on the beach. And I think it’ll help the town out as a whole for additional navigational channel and other recreational opportunities for our visitors that come here during the summer for tourism.”

Foster also believes that this will help property values in the area. He also says this will not impact residents’ taxes.

“I think that people who are looking to buy homes here want to see a commitment from the town,” Foster said. “We’re going to be able to or have a commitment to beach nourishment.”

Because after all, Foster said that’s why people move to Oak Island.

“I don’t think anyone wants to buy a home where you have your beach eroded away at the beach,” Foster said. “If you don’t have a beach you’re probably not going to be wanting to buy a home here.”

Foster says that Oak Island has worked with between 15 and 20 environmental agencies to make sure that the plan being presented tonight is the best it can possibly be, not only for homes but for nature as well.