At 1 pm on 11 October 2023 Horowhenua District Council will start a meeting whose Agenda includes: 7 Waikawa Beach Vehicle Access
. Councillors will be voting on whether or not to go out to the wider public for consultations on vehicle access to Waikawa Beach.
This follows on from the Presentation on Waikawa Beach Vehicle Access, 06 September 2023.
There’s a great deal of information in the Agenda. Following are some key points, extracted from the Agenda materials. Options could individually be approved or denied. Minor edits that don’t change the intent or meaning have been made to simplify the text below.
Officers are seeking guidance from Council on the options it wishes to consult on with the community. That Council consults with the community on Option:
- 1. Install new vehicle bridge and track at Waikawa Beach Road
- 2. Establish a new access between 47–49 Manga Pirau Street
- 3. Utilisation of current vehicular access with lease agreement and provision of maintenance budget without application for river training
- 3a. Utilisation of current vehicular access with lease agreement and provision of maintenance budget including an application for river training
- 4. Establish new vehicle access adjacent to 10 Reay Mackay Road
- 5. Utilization of existing pedestrian access at 60 Reay Mackay Grove
- That the Council note this report but takes no further action.
Background:
4.3 The private landowner has confirmed its interest in agreeing a formal lease with Council for ongoing use of the existing vehicle access subject to satisfactory terms and conditions. Ngāti Wehi Wehi has confirmed its support for the owner of the land in this context.
Several parties requested Council progress with a general beach bylaw to regulate beach access (as done in KCDC); the development of a beach bylaw is currently on officers work plans and the intention is to bring this to council for consideration in the coming months.
Antisocial behaviour noted with groups occasionally congregating in the beach area racing and off-roading on the beach and into the dunes.
The feedback from various stakeholders presents a complex picture regarding beach access at Waikawa Beach. Environmental concerns, including potential damage to habitats and disturbance to wildlife, are crucial points raised by both community members and environmental organisations. Cultural significance and private landowner rights are also significant factors, adding depth to the discussion. Additionally, there are concerns about antisocial behaviour and the impact on the local community’s peace and privacy. The preferences and assessments provided by regional authorities and conservation bodies further complicate the decision-making process, emphasising the need for a balanced approach that addresses these diverse perspectives.
5.4 Additionally, it’s important to consider the possibility of having no vehicle access an officers recognise that a portion of the community advocates for this alternative.
5.5 All potential vehicular access will require ongoing operational budget, which is not part of the cost estimate for installing the tracks. These costs could vary quite considerably in relation to the length of the access way, and its location.
8.1 If Council elects to pursue any of the above options there will be a rate impact. Of around 1% per annum for Option 1; 0.05% for option 2; 0.024% for option 3; 0.1% for option 4; and 0.07% for option 5.
This will be a very significant meeting for Waikawa Beach. If you don’t wish to attend in person the meeting is available live or from the next day on the HDC YouTube Channel.
