Longer barrier to stop rubbish dumpers

TO STOP THE DUMPERS: The next stage of a project to stop illegal dumping along the foreshore on Centennial Marine Drive has started. The first 800 metres, which was fenced off with bollards in 2013, has proved successful as a deterrent to dumpers. Gisborne District Council contractors Earthwork Solutions’ Logan King and Allan Hohipa are pictured working on the next 2.5km of bollards. Picture by Paul Rickard

THE second stage has begun in an effort to reduce the number of places people can drive in and dump rubbish along the 7km foreshore on Gisborne’s prime town beach.

This week a start was made on the installation of close to 2.5km of more bollards along the Kopututea Reserve on the beach side of Centennial Marine Drive, to protect the dunes and prevent illegal dumping.

Part of Gisborne District Council’s co-management agreement with the Kopututea Trust, work on this goes back to the 1990s when the council and trust agreed to prepare a co-management plan.

An initial draft went to the council in 2000 but was not finalised. In 2012 a memorandum of understanding was signed to seal the deal on a co-management plan.

The area is a block of land between Centennial Marine Drive south of Pacific Street, to the Waipaoa river mouth. It is a popular recreation area enjoyed by many.

The management aim of the plan was to “protect the natural integrity of Kopututea while providing for recreation and access to the coast”.

The first 800 metres of bollards went up in 2013.

Dumping groundThe sand dunes along Centennial Marine Drive between Midway Surf Club and the river mouth have long been used as a clandestine rubbish dumping ground.

Council contracts and assets manager Garrett Blair said since the first stretch of bollards went up, the council had seen very little dumping there and the dune was naturally restoring.

This work was not intended to restrict the community from enjoying this stretch of beachfront.

“It’s just changing the way we access this area to support the environment better.”

Trust chairman Pene Brown is keen to see this development take place to preserve the sensitive Kopututea dune environment.

Two designated points for vehicles will remain available for access to the beachfront and sand collection.

The work will take approximately three weeks to complete and traffic management will be in place as contractors carry out installation in segments.

Since the council posted about the bollarding on social media, many people have expressed concerns about restricted access.

Mr Blair said the council maintained the area was privately owned and the work was part of a co-management agreement with the trust.

“The bollards have been assessed by a road safety engineer as being a safe distance from the road. They are in line with the existing bollards towards Pacific Street. Further parking and access areas are being looked at for future development of the area.”