Speed limits drive beach safety at Muriwai
By MIKE BISHARA - Norwest News | Thursday, 06 November 2008

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New speed limits addressing safety concerns apply to the length of Muriwai Beach from December 1.


A 30kmh limit is being introduced at the southern end where traffic restrictions already limit vehicle use to emergency services and launching boats.

A 60kmh limit starts about 650 metres north of the Coast Rd and Okiritoto Stream access near the Muriwai golf course.

It extends up Te Oneone Rangitira Beach, as northern Muriwai is known, to the bombing range and conservation land.

However, questions remain about how effectively the Rodney District Council can enforce the restrictions.

The new limits applying between the high water and low water spring tides areas are a response to increasing safety concerns after a number of incidents, including one where a girl was killed on a northern beach.

There is no public vehicle access to the Papakanui Spit – a wildlife area and home to the rare fairy tern and New Zealand dotterel.

Each part of the 40km-long beach attracts its own particular users, from swimmers, surfers, fishers and family picnickers to horse riders, bikers, land yacht and four-wheel-drive enthusiasts.

The target is the 10,000 vehicles using the Coast Rd monthly to gain beach entry.

Large numbers of four-wheel-drive vehicles and motorcycles range over all parts of the beach – essentially uncontrollable by the few and almost powerless rangers and an inadequate number of police available to assist.

Kaipara Forest and Bird, which sought a ban of all types of vehicles, including motorcycles, in the inter-tidal area and the dune systems, asked for details of how the district council intends to enforce the speed limits.

The council says police enforcement will be backed up by council and Auckland Regional Council parks staff once the restrictions are in place, and spot fines for traffic offences.

The move is seen as a temporary solution in response to a number of incidents on the beach in past years, some of which ended in tragedy.

The Department of Conservation, regional council, and police are working on a long-term management programme with the district council.

The council describes the move as an interim measure to ensure a safer beach and to minimise environmental damage as a result of improper vehicle use.

It says the joint-agency programme may include progressive changes to the management of vehicles on the beach as the "recreational needs of off-road vehicles are better provided for".

Regional council Rodney representative Christine Rose says Muriwai and Te Oneone Rangatira’s closeness to Auckland means they are getting busier, both for passive beach users and vehicles – and that means more risks and more incidents on the beach.

"Erosion has reduced the safe area for picnicking and walking on the beach at high tide, meaning public space is limited and dunes are more fragile," says Mrs Rose.

"The beach is also home to a host of other inhabitants – wading and migratory birds, shellfish and vegetation.

"The dunes are home to many species of bird and plant life, vulnerable and rare native species.

"Together we need to look after these.

"Children and adults are more vulnerable than a four-wheel-vehicle, so we’re asking motorised users to really watch out," Mrs Rose says.

what can I say to that...

I think it's a good outcome, it could have been a lot worse.

and as always the police will hit it hard this summer,
and then give up on it. :roll:

60 km/h sounds pretty reasonable,

one of the silliest things i've ever done was 150km/h down tautuku beach in the catlins, prob wouldn't do it again either. :roll: