Waimarama Beach vehicle access

The terms of reference for public consultation on vehicle use on Waimarama Beach have been refined.

Residents were given a chance to have their say, following an informal information day at the Waimarama Memorial Hall in December. The Hastings District Council (HDC) says “residents were fairly evenly split between keeping the current rules and extending the vehicle ban area.’’

Five hundred and fifty three responded to HDC’s previous call for submissions on the issue, with 43% indicating they wanted a permanent ban on vehicles, 37% preferring the status quo and 9% wanting an extension of the banned driving area.

The current rules prohibit the use of vehicles in a designated area of the beach, between 8am and 8pm from Labour Weekend until April 1.

That remains an option offered by HDC, along with three others for the community to consider. None include unfettered vehicle use.

The possibilities on the table are:

1. a continuation of the Labour Weekend to April 1 ban, 
2. a ban in the same area all year round, 
3. extending the ban area to the north all year round including Tiakitai Road access, or
4. extending the ban to the north excluding the Tiakitai Road access all year round.

Beach access from Tiakitai Road became topical when Waimarama resident – and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi chairman – Bayden Barber installed boulders to create a roadblock.

That was followed by another resident, Eru Smith, creating a similar barrier in the Waimarama Domain area.

People have until May 10 to respond to the four options, which HDC says it will consider before making a decision.

“This is not a vote. If the decision is to expand the ban area, implementing the change is likely to require a further process to formalise it,” the HDC said in a press release.

Another drop-in session on the topic will be held in the Waimarama Memorial Hall from 12pm to 3pm on April 20.

People can also give feedback online at www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz or forms are available at the Hastings Libraries (Flaxmere, Hastings, Havelock North) and council’s customer service centre at Lyndon Road East, Hastings.

Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air