Piha residents brace for chaos during surfers' world event

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says Piha is the ideal location because it was the birthplace of surfing in NZ. Photo / Greg Bowker

Some Piha residents predict traffic chaos and sleepless nights when their small resort hosts the world junior surfing championships for seven days next month.

Organisers told them to expect a crowd of 3000 to 15,000 as well as 300 surfers, 50 volunteers and 150 staff and officials at the west Auckland beach from January 21 to 28.

An event village will be set up in the carpark in front of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club.

"It's a big event to hold in a small place ... it's just not practicable," said bach owner Jan O'Connor.

"I was appalled to learn that trees would have to be pruned to allow double-decker buses to pass on the roads and by the thought of such big buses hurtling along that little road."

But Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says Piha is the ideal location because it was the birthplace of surfing in New Zealand.

Resident Ross Pownall said he was frightened to think of what might happen if 10,000 visitors were added to the 2000 residents and the thousands who normally arrived on a summer's day.

"I don't think they will have carparking space. It will be horrific for people living here because people will create their own place to park.

"The police will have to be here to protect residents at nights in case youths ignore the liquor ban and hoon up on the sand dunes."

Piha Residents and Ratepayers president Keith Franich said the Waitakere City Council left it till December 18 to send residents a letter outlining event management measures.

"We have been assured that South Piha Beach will not be closed to the public and that a swimming area for swimmers will be flagged off in the safest part of the beach and the surfers have to go outside of that."

Mr Franich said the event managers would have to bring all facilities into Piha because there was no fresh water supply and toilets were on septic tank systems.

"There should be a temporary speed restriction to 70 km/h on that road to Piha because it is notorious for vehicles crossing the white line and head-on collisions."

Council public affairs director Wally Thomas said two public meetings were held to hear residents' concerns. "We have been working with Piha people to make this a seamless event."

Event director Gabby Steyn said the council approved a traffic management plan.

"We estimate no more than 3000 vehicles a day will come and overflow parking arrangements have been made for the domain, Stedfast Park and the camping ground.

In the worst case scenario, traffic management will shut off the road and we won't allow any more vehicles to come in."

Ms Steyn said that each day after the event competitors and officials would return to SkyCity.