VEHICLES ON BEACHES

Appeals from children of Red Beach School to keep vehicles off beaches. (Rodney Times , 13 September.) I applaud the children’s efforts and their obviously excellent teacher. With such teachers and responsive, caring children there is hope for the marine environment which is continuing to be exploited by the ‘grown-ups’; the developers, the politicians, public ignorance and apathy. However, other more knowledgeable adults have lobbied on just these issues with one result being the NZ Coastal Policy Statement 2010, (NZCPS) easily available on-line. Policy 20 is very clear on the issue of vehicles on beaches; (1) Control use of vehicles, apart from emergency vehicles, on beaches, foreshore, seabed ……where: (b) harm to ecological systems or to indigenous flora and fauna, for example marine mammal and bird habitat or breeding areas and shellfish beds; or (c) danger to other beach users; or (d) disturbance of the peaceful enjoyment of the beach environment…might result. (2) Identify the locations where vehicular access is required for boat launching,….and make appropriate provision for such access. At Sandspit we had similar problems with Sea Legs type vehicles. Despite a nearby public launching ramp and advising the drivers of the NZCPS rules, we were ignored. Dr Roger Grace and I followed the tracks of one of these vehicles across the shellfish bed and found freshly broken cockles and squashed tiny fish, which are the prey of such endangered species as reef herons and royal spoonbills. I hope the Red Beach School children lobby Council to erect appropriate signs.