Plea over New Plymouth’s Back Beach steps
A petition signed by more than 2000 people calling for the restoration of steps leading to one of New Plymouth’s most popular beaches has been presented to councillors.
The steps at Back Beach were damaged during exCyclone Gita and a king tide last February, and the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) removed them in October.
The council said replacing the steps would cost up to $150,000, so it had a $7000 viewing platform built partway down. Access is still possible, but involves a 1 kilometre walk across the beach from a neighbouring car park or clambering down a steep sand chute.
After a backlash from the community the council said it would re-examine the issue this year.
At Tuesday’s full meeting of the NPDC, resident Katherine Britten-Wood presented her 2277-signature petition calling for the reinstallation of the steps.
‘‘Throughout the winter the steps were closed off with a ‘danger, keep out’ tape but beach goers continued to use them despite the perceived danger,’’ she said.
The council removed the steps without asking the public what they wanted, she said.
‘‘We can’t expect the elderly, or the infirm, or families with small children, or people walking their dog to use the sand chute.
‘‘With continuous use the sand chute will lose its cover of loose sand, resulting in an increase of accidents from the exposed hard layer beneath.’’
She drew councillors to one comment in the petition: ‘‘The tide came in and visitors on the beach panicked; they needed to get out. The kids got up the dune but the adults didn’t – they were physically unable.’’
The large number of surfers at the bottom car park meant there often wasn’t a lot of room and it was also a long, hot walk along the beach to the swimming spot between Mataora and Pararaki islands, she said.
‘‘Between the Sugar Loaf Islands is my favourite location with my dog.
‘‘It needs to be fixed before next summer because it’s missed so much.’’
Deputy mayor Richard Jordan, who was chairing the meeting, said the matter would be discussed at the Planning Committee meeting on March 26, and suggested Britten-Wood represent the matter then.