Beach access sparks anger

A Napier fisherman reckons the plan to close Ocean Beach at night to curtail vandalism should be reeled back in.

Chris Morris, from Tamatea, enjoys surfcasting and regularly fishes at Ocean Beach in the early morning or late evenings, when Hastings District Council proposes to close the beach to vehicle access.

"Any true fisherman will tell you fishing is far better during the dawn, dusk and night-time hours," he said.

"I have a four-wheel drive vehicle and use the track to the beach in order to gain access to the best spots, way down the beach."

Mr Morris said the only vehicles on the beach at the Cape Kidnappers end were four-wheel drive and not the camper vans or regular cars the council said were using the beach for illegal overnight camping.

"I have found out that the area the council is worried about is the carpark and it's about the rubbish being left there," he said.

"The council had a big rubbish bin but it's no longer there. Surely if Hawke's Bay people and tourists want to use the beach over summer, there needs to be a rubbish collection."

The council planned to install a gate to lock the beach at night but people would still be able to access the beach on foot.

"It's all very well saying the public can walk down to the beach at any time but whoever wrote that obviously has no idea about fishing," Mr Morris said. "I'm 51 years old and I cannot carry 50kg-plus of equipment several miles down the beach."

The council's marketing and communications manager, Paul Evans, said the closure would be between 8pm and 6am.

"The placement of the gate will still allow parking and ready access to the beach 24 hours a day," he said.

Public access to the reserve at Ocean Beach was through land owned by the Pukepuke Tangiora Estate which was worried about the behaviour and lack of respect displayed by some people using the beach.

"Subsequently they have requested that access to their land is limited after hours, which is well within their rights as the private landowner," he said.

Mr Evans said the council and the estate understood the important place Ocean Beach held in the hearts of people.

"This proposal is simply about ensuring we can provide ongoing access whilst addressing the legitimate concerns of the private landowner."