Boardwalk plan causes stir
An $840,000 upgrade of the waterfront in the small seaside town of Mangonui has been met with mixed reactions from residents.
Funding to extend the boardwalk to the tune of $547,000 has been brought forward to 2018/19 from 2024/25 after a petition of 502 signatures was presented to Far North District Council.
The resource consent for the extension - up to 170 metres - will cost another $100,000 along with $25,000 for the protection of pohutukawa trees, $18,000 for lighting and $150,000 for the safety rail.
Council is currently noncompliant with the current boardwalk infrastructure.
Local shop owner Diana Mills started the petition to have the boardwalk extension brought forward as she believes a serious accident is waiting to happen.
There is currently no barrier between the road and a drop into the harbour along parts of the waterfront.
Mills says her mother reversed partly over the edge once and
a couple of others have also come close to driving off the edge.
‘‘We need to have the boardwalk extended, it is currently so dangerous.
‘‘There is also no footpath where the extension would go, so it would make it a lot safer for kids and people with pushchairs.’’
A council spokesperson says the previous council chose not to comply with the resource consent.
‘‘The current council has committed to exploring options with the community including the provision of a safety rail, that ensures the boardwalk complies with the resource consent.’’
If someone was to be injured, the spokesperson says ‘‘there could be reasonable grounds for court action against the council on the basis that it knowingly provided a public facility that failed to meet safety standards.’’
A petition of 400 signatures was presented to council asking that funds set aside for the safety rail be diverted to the extension of the boardwalk.
Resident Colleen Hohaia says a safety rail would block the view. The area has gone a long time without one, she says.
‘‘We could have other things for our rates, such as drainage, more street lights and a rubbish collection.’’