KEY POINTS:
Community and iwi opponents of a controversial pedestrian overbridge to be built over a Far North highway on to a popular beach will gather at Cable Bay tomorrow with some expecting to confront contractors.
Alex Morgan, part of a community group opposed to the bridge, the Cable Bay Beach Watch Network, said objectors would meet on the site to stage a peaceful protest.
"There's room for all levels of activity. Some will want to be protesting, others will act in a support role."
Already on the beach illegally is a small whare (building), quickly built in protest on the construction site by a local kaumatua who has so far defied attempts to remove him.
Tomorrow has been named by McBreen Jenkins contractors' representative Larry Eade as the date bridge construction will start but this has been clouded in recent days by behind the scenes meetings.
Discussions involving Crystal Waters condominium developer Chris Hook, the Far North District Council, Transit NZ and objectors have focused on looking at alternative beach access instead of the proposed bridge.
The footbridge is intended to link a 50-unit, upmarket condominium development now being built on a hillside above the beach at Cable Bay.
It would cross above State Highway 10 and drop to the foreshore among pohutukawa - but objectors say it would end up on public esplanade reserve on the beach foreshore.
The council, contractors and developer say the structure would be built entirely within Transit road reserve.
Objectors say the road reserve and public reserve boundaries have been "shifted" since 2005 when they mounted a successful protest action to stop the overbridge being built then.
Although the structure has council resource consent from 2003, it was approved without being publicly notified and without a public hearing or community consultation.
Kaumatua Reece Burgoyne and helpers now have a whare of corrugated iron and wood set up on the foreshore below the highway where bridge construction is expected to take place.
So far, the council has made no attempt to remove Mr Burgoyne, his whare or his supporters.
