Neighbourhood watch: Locals block off Otahuhu party hotspot with a campervan

A group of fed up Otahuhu locals are banding together to stop would-be partygoers from entering a carpark next to Seaside Park by blocking the entrance off with a campervan.

Local residents are taking it in shifts to guard the entrance at night and turn people away on the spot in a grassroots campaign to reclaim their peace and quiet.

The carpark has been a hot spot for revellers for years, but issues with loud music, excessive drinking and rowdy behaviour at the weekend have gotten worse since Christmas.

Otahuhu resident Jess Denholm has erected a fence to close the Seaside Park carpark in the evenings. Photo / Jason Oxenham

As many as 25 carloads of people gather each night every weekend, entering through an area locals want the council to block off with a barrier arm.

Resident Jess Denholm who lives across the road from the park said no one had gotten a decent sleep on a Friday or Saturday night for months.

"First it was just the usual Christmas stuff which is understandable, but now it's every weekend," she said.

"You've got the loud music - and it's really loud. No one's sleeping; everyone's calling the police and noise control."

Last week, fearing an Easter weekend blow-out, Denholm decided to take matters into her own hands.

"We knew the long weekend was coming and honestly we're all just so tired."

Using some fencing left over from a home construction project, Denholm blocked off half of the carpark's entrance and she blocks the other half once it gets dark with her campervan and trailer.

Using the back of political hoardings which had been on her fence, Denholm painted the "closed" signs.

"Community protected park. Closed at night," the largest sign reads.

Denholm called around and found her neighbours had been doing the same thing as her: calling police and noise control, but thinking they were in it alone.

The blockade is to stop youths drinking in their cars. Photo / Jason Oxenham

So she rallied a group together and they took it in turns to keep watch every night since Thursday, some staying until 7am.

She has also lodged a request with council to block the carpark off with a barrier arm.

Neighbour Shanley Haronga guessed on Thursday they turned away about 60 people trying to come to the carpark to drink.

"Car after car was turning up."

Haronga works nights and said it could be really tiring to come home late and be unable to sleep due to the noise.

She was relieved to see something being done.

Sue Ford has lived in the area for 12 years and said partying by the park had always been an issue, but lately it had gotten much worse.

She like many locals wants the council to install a barrier arm to block off after-hours access to the park.

Ford also said she wanted signage telling people the area was under CCTV surveillance.

Agnes McCormack, Auckland council's Head of Operational Management and Maintenance, said council received a request for a chain or bollards to be installed at the park late last week, which would take a few days to install, McCormack said.

"In the meantime, we have requested a guard to be on site at night to stop people congregating to party.

"Aside from this request, we have not received any complaints or been made aware of any other issues in relation to the park."

A crew was sent to the site to clear away any rubbish today, she said.

"If residents see the [park] gate is not locked, or they have any concerns about rubbish or any other maintenance issues, they can call the council on 09 301 0101.

"If they have any immediate concerns about the behaviour of people in the park, they should contact the police."