KEY POINTS:
Plans to close off an access road to Omana Beach will be reconsidered, following a strong debate among local councillors.
The Manukau City Council voted against a referendum to be held within the Beachlands-Maraetai community, to determine support for the closure of an access road in Omana.
The access road - within the Omana reserve off Omana Esplanade Road - is part of the Clevedon Community Board and Manukau Parks' project for a new walkway to be laid within the reserve.
As part of the walkway project, a concept was put forward to close the access road entirely, grassing the area and having only the walkway running through the reserve.
Two carparks on either side of the reserve was a possible alternative to having cars parked right near the beach.
However, residents at the meeting were against the idea, acknowledging the difficulty of having to walk 200m from a carpark to the beach, particularly when dealing with children.
"We don't want it to be a Mission Bay of the East," one local said.
"This lack of consultation has been a root of protest in this community. I struggle to understand why a multi-million [dollar] project was not publicly consulted properly," he said.
Manukau Parks manager Digby Whyte acknowledged that closing the access road may be a hassle to some, but he said there were many benefits for having a walkway within the Omana reserve.
"The idea is you could stick a kid on a bike and send him down to the Te Puru Community Centre without getting on a road."
He said the project was part of a 5km walkway running from Beachlands and Maraetai, which would be completed some time this financial year.
