Protesters stop footbridge contractors for second day

A peaceful standoff continued yesterday between protesters objecting to the construction of a footbridge on to a Far North beach and contractors trying to build it.

The steel footbridge is part of a $50 million condominium development, Crystal Waters, being built on a hillside above Cable Bay and is designed to link the site with the beach.

About 20 objectors kept a vigil on the beach yesterday, some in a tin shed on the foreshore on the site of a pile for the bridge.

Contractors and pile drivers made no move to take a 25-tonne digger on to the beach as the protesters delayed for a second day a start to work on the footbridge, which is to run above State Highway 10 and down to the foreshore.

Off site, contractors' lawyers and Northland Regional Council representatives were trying to resolve legal issues.

A regional council consent, allowing temporary works on the foreshore to undertake pile driving work, expires on November 25.

The Far North District Council approved the footbridge without public notification, or iwi or public consultation, more than two years ago.

Local community and hapu members object to this and say the steel bridge will be a visually prominent eyesore on a beautiful beach.

They want a hillside walkway leading down to a proposed pedestrian crossing across the highway as an alternative to an above-highway footbridge.

Far North police are watching the situation but have not become involved.

It is understood no move is likely to be made by contractors to access their foreshore work site before the weekend.