Sick of smash palace

So far this year, Karen Jackson has counted six crashes on the corner outside her house and had to replace the fence twice - and it’s only March.

The most recent crash was on February 17 when a car went through the fence Jackson had replaced just three weeks prior.

It was the third crash in three days and the second time this year a car has spun out of control on to her Torbay property.

Last year, cars crashed onto her property three times, once landing near her front steps. Jackson is frustrated by council inaction, especially as it is dangerous.

‘‘This is a main walking route … On the weekend, people walk down to Waiake Beach with prams, dogs and picnic baskets.’’

On February 16, a car spun 360 degrees and ended up across the road. And on February 15, a car spun out and hit the kerb and a road sign before driving off unscathed.

Jackson’s son Carl believes the accidents are caused by a combination of things, from wet weather, to speed. He says reinstalling the fence will limit damage but it will not stop the crashes.

‘‘We can’t stop it raining, or educate everyone. You need to change the road in some way that accounts for people. That accounts for the calibre of the driver.’’

He suggests a grip surface be installed or the camber, or curve, of the road be changed.

The pair says they, and neighbours, have called Auckland Transport numerous times.

‘‘We call them up and log calls and someone gets back to you 50 per cent of the time. It’s always under investigation,’’ Carl says.

Neighbour Debbie Rhodes shares the concerns and says she had been told by council an antifriction surface would be installed in the new financial year.

Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said, in an email, AT had recorded four reported crashes at the intersection between 2011 and 2015 and initially said there were no plans to alter this section of the road.

However, when asked in a follow-up question about Rhodes’ comment he said there are plans to install 55 metres of high friction surfacing outside the Beach Rd home in the 2017/18 year.

But Carl says it only takes ‘‘one car and one bit of rain’’ for an accident to be fatal.

‘‘We’ve made them aware it’s dangerous . ... It seems like they’re playing roulette.’’ next best suburb was Belmont with a 36 per cent rise to $1.18m, followed by Castor Bay up 34 per cent to $1.71m.

Mission Bay took top place on the list with a tremendous 53 per cent increase, to $1.79m.

Barfoot & Thompson managing director Peter Thompson says, while the average price in suburbs is affected by the number of new houses or new lower-cost apartments, a trend is apparent.

‘‘Buyers are looking further out and perhaps trading off a central location for other lifestyle factors. Twelve of the top 20 are coastal, which is not surprising given New Zealanders’ love of the water.’’

For 2017, Thompson expected prices on the North Shore to stay strong. Areas like Takapuna and Devonport consistently do well, while areas like Beach Haven and Birkdale were selling well with new homebuyers and investors.

ZIZI SPARKS/FAIRFAX NZ ABOVE: Frustrated by council inaction, Torbay resident Karen Jackson has taken matters into her own hands, erecting three signs outside her home telling drivers to slow down. There have been 12 crashes outside or onto her property, at the corner of...