07 May 2009

Committee approves Beach Bylaw 2009

Kapiti Coast District Council’s Regulatory Management Committee today approved an amended Beach Bylaw 2009 which provides the option for areas of the beach to be defined as “clothing optional” but only after full public consultation.

“We need to make it clear to the public that there is no change here,” Mayor Jenny Rowan said. “We have maintained the provisions of the 2002 bylaw. There is no problem with nudity on our beaches now and I do not anticipate we will have a problem in future.”

No requests for clothing optional areas have ever been received under the previous bylaw.

“If people are concerned or have a problem with the appearance or behaviour of nude people on the beach, then they call the police,” she said.

The committee also voted to include in the bylaw a clause stating, “No person shall remain upon any part of the beach in deliberate view of others in such a state of undress as to cause offence”.

Chair of the Regulatory Management Committee, Diane Ammundsen said, “We have always been clear that we are not opening our beaches up to nudity but the public perception has been otherwise. We need to be as clear as we can be; we do not support it.”

The Committee also voted in favour of banning two wheel motorbikes from all areas of the beach, agreeing with submitters who argued that two wheeled motorbikes were often unregistered and unwarranted dirt bikes which were noisy, often driven dangerously and caused considerable damage to the dunes and general beach environment. No vehicles are permitted on the dunes at any time.

Subject to a review after 12 months, the committee agreed that fires will be allowed on specified areas of the beach but will require a permit and must comply with the rules set out in the district’s Open Air Burning Guide.

Submissions from horse advocates were also accepted and the area of the beach accessible to horses has been increased while restrictions during summer on the times when horses could be on various specified areas of the beach were reduced.

The bylaw must now go to a full Council meeting for formal acceptance and repeal of the previous bylaw. Subject to confirmation by the full Council, the Kapiti Coast District Council Beach Bylaw 2009 will come into force on September 1, 2009 in time for the 2009/2010 summer beach season.

“The next steps are ensuring we have the resources to enforce the rules and to educate beach users through signage and other educational material,” Mayor Rowan said.

ENDS

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