Public vehicle access has been blocked on Ocean Beach. Photo / Paul Taylor
Public vehicle access has been blocked on Ocean Beach. Photo / Paul Taylor
A new barrier blocking vehicle access onto Ocean Beach has upset surfers who say they've been using 4WDs on the beach for decades to get to the best surf breaks.
Hastings District Council installed a barrier last week near the surf lifesaving club, blocking public vehicle access onto the beach,after residents and local hapu raised concerns about hoons and vehicles damaging the coastal environment.
Ocean Beach resident Andy Lowe said the problem had been getting worse, with people ripping up the dunes and even sacred sites.
"No one has concerns with surfers or fishermen going down but it has turned into a race track."
He said videos on YouTube and websites were becoming more common with people visiting the area and taking motorbikes or vehicles onto the beach.
"They have been ripping up wahi tapu sites and burial grounds."
The barrier (left) has been installed next to an existing gate which is used by the surf life saving club. Photo / Paul Taylor
However, surfers say they are being punished for other people's bad behaviour, and the move is creating "double standards" as residents who live next to the beach can still drive onto the beach from private access points.
Aaron Greaves, from Hastings, said he had been surfing there for about 25 years.
He said without vehicle access it would take hours to walk to surf spots at the northern end of the beach, which was not viable.
Greaves said there had to be a better way forward that did not punish people who had treated the beach with respect for years.
He said issuing permits, and a key, to beachgoers who did not misuse the beach was a good option and money from permits could go towards work on the dunes and the beach.
He said he understood resident and iwi concerns about potential damage from vehicles.
A council spokeswoman said people could still park in the car park or in the nearby reserve and walk to the beach.
"Local landowners, in particular, were extremely concerned about the damage being done to the fragile coastal ecology and wildlife habitat on their land as well as antisocial driver behaviour on the beach."
View over Ocean Beach. Photo / Warren Buckland
Part of the public access to Ocean Beach goes over Māori land and the landowners allow that access, the council confirmed.
Despite the new barrier, no by-law prohibits vehicles or motorbikes from going on the beach.
That means you cannot be fined for taking a vehicle or motorbike on the beach as long as you keep to a 20km/h speed limit.
Another surfer, who did not want to be named, said it would be a disaster to lose vehicle access at Ocean Beach.
"It's taking our playground away from us, pretty much," he said.
"People use that beach for their release. You go out there and get out on the water and it is a good mental health release."
He said there had not been any signs put up by the council explaining the move or even a statement online.
He said people were confused about what the rules were now.
The council confirmed it would put up a sign soon near the vehicle barrier.
Another surfer, who did not want to be named, said it was creating "double standards" as other residents who had private access could still drive on the beach.
He said the new barrier would encourage more people to lift quad bikes over barriers as it was not breaking any rules.
There have also been disputes reported in recent months between residents and beachgoers, such as locks being cut off after being placed on gates to stop vehicles.
Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club still has vehicle access to the beach through an existing locked gate.
The council said the barrier project included Hawke's Bay Regional Council and the Department of Conservation. When approached by Hawke's Bay Today, they said they were not involved.
