Papamoa locals say an accident similar to that which killed Daisy Fernandez on a Northland beach could happen here as a growing number of quad and motorbikes are hooning along our coastline.
Some Karewa Parade residents wants to see a total ban on motorised bikes on the beach, while others feel the permit system needs to better policed.
Tauranga teenager Daisy Fernandez, 13, died after a 15-year-old youth on motorbike ploughed into her and a friend at Ripiro Beach at Glinks Gully, 17km southwest of Dargaville at 9.30pm on New Year's Eve.
The motorbike did not have headlights on and the rider has now been referred by police to Youth Aid.
A funeral service for Daisy will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church from noon tomorrow.
Yesterday a survey of Papamoa residents showed many were concerned about the behaviour of quad and motorbike riders here.
Steve Moyle and his partner, Nicola Page, who were holidaying at their family bach with their two daughters told the Bay of Plenty Times it was time for a rethink about bikes being allowed on the beach.
Quad bikes are allowed to be ridden between Karewa Parade and the Kaituna River mouth but the rider must have a permit.
Mr Moyle said most riders were fishermen on quad bikes putting out long-lines and were very careful. "But the hoon element has definitely sprung up on here over the past year," he said.
"There are far more people doing the quad bike thing which means the beach is far busier and people need to be far more careful about watching out for bikers."
That included one male in his late teens on a three-wheeled trial bike ``hooning' up and down the beach yesterday morning, he said.
Ms Page said the rider was going way too fast and revved his bike so fumes wafted into their bach. "There are tonnes of kids on the beach at this time of year and someone is going to get seriously hurt or killed before too long.
"No matter how carefully you watch your children, kids are unpredictable and can spring up out of a hole after digging at anytime and with bikes going up and down it's an accident waiting to happen."
Mr Moyle said he'd like to see a total ban on bikes from the beach or the beach access point for bikes moved further south, right away from baches.
Long-standing Karewa Pde residents Nigel and Lynda Avery said they also were a concerned about the growing hoon element on their stretch of beach. Mr Avery said he supported a total bike ban.
"The beach is not a place for bikes. It isn't a road and shouldn't be treated as one."
Mrs Avery wasn't sure about a total ban but called for better policing.
"A small number of people are abusing the privilege and ruining it for everyone else."
Another long-term Karewa Parade resident, who did not wish to be named, said allowing bikes on the beach at this time of year was just "a recipe for disaster".
Papamoa head lifeguard Kurt Golding said hoonish behaviour on bikes was not a huge problem at manned beaches but unfortunately was an issue at Arataki and further down the beach at Karewa Parade.
Fears over motorbike 'hoons' on beach
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