Time for a beach warden

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

It would appear that our “Please do not dump your rubbish on the beach” policy is not working. On a recent morning ride taking in the stunning scenery of one of the best beaches in the world, I was left bewildered by the number of rubbish bags and amount of rubbish dumped.

So how can we stop people using the area as a dumping ground? I have pondered this and have a solution.

First, be proactive! The sign at the start of the mad mile is not enough. What about a beach warden who stops and talks to every family and beach user along the way — a friendly type who can talk to people from all walks of life, educating and encouraging the public to keep our beaches tidy . . . with a law enforcement angle if needed to ensure rules are followed.

This person could have a double role enhancing the ecology of the area, researching the species present, promoting wildlife values in the area and offering protection during breeding seasons. The benefits of such a proactive role could attract more tourists to our region and would tie in with the ideas of the boardwalk to the rivers.

The warden would be present to stop dumping and offer solutions — encouraging these people who feel the need to dump to dispose of their waste responsibly.

Second, perhaps the dumping of rubbish bags at All Brite could be subsidised. That way people on lower incomes would and could dump bags at the recycling station instead of driving down the beach and dumping on what could be the best beach in the world.

Robyn Wilkie