Rangers want 4WDS kept out

A ‘‘strong gate’’ and bollards to keep 4WD vehicles out of the Onepoto arm of Whitireia Park have been suggested by the regional council, with Porirua City Council expected to shoulder the cost.

Greater Wellington Regional Council, which administers the park, has asked for a gate and bollards just past the Onepoto boatsheds, to try to put a halt to the damage to wetlands and sand dunes, the dumping of rubbish and help stop other antisocial activity. Greater Wellington ranger Wayne Boness made the request as part of PCC’S long term plan hearings last week.

‘‘We’re doing a lot of planting in the burn area (where a fire devastated a section of the park in 2010) but people and vehicles are being a nuisance. We are not seeking to close that road but restrict access, people go there after dark and rip up the grass and do other things there that is hurting the birdlife and general ecology.’’

GWRC is also asking that the refurbished toilet block be cleaned by PCC, at a cost of $7000 a year, which would ‘‘free up time and funding for other work’’, including the revegetation of the area.