Dune driving on the decrease

Dune driving on the decrease

Coast Care Bay of Plenty is praising beachgoers for taking more care of the region’s dunes but say there are still a number of drivers continuing to cause damage with their vehicles.

Coast Care Coordinator Pim de Monchy said one of the most badly damaged areas in the Bay of Plenty is from Ōtamarākau to Whakatāne.

“In some spots the native dune plants have been completely destroyed and there are numerous tracks and blowouts and evidence of erosion,” Mr de Monchy said. “Dotterel and other birds on the beach are also affected when drivers destroy or disturb nests.”

Coast Care, a joint community and local government programme, has sponsored the area’s two largest fishing competitions since 2008 to help raise awareness of the damage vehicles can cause.

Cash spot prizes were on offer for competitors but anybody seen driving or parked on dune vegetation was unable to claim their prize.

“We started this initiative in 2008 and since then the number of competitors driving on dune plants has decreased from 80 in 2008 to just five at this year’s Easter competition,” Mr de Monchy said.

“People seem to be getting the message. The challenge now is to restore the damaged dunes and to increase awareness of bird nesting areas as well as dune plants.

“We don’t want people to stop fishing here - we just want them to keep their vehicles off the dunes and dotterel areas, and preferably to walk across from the highway or defined parking areas.”

Whakatāne District Council Technical Adviser for Reserves Pete McLaren said the beaches are for everyone to enjoy and it’s important that they’re kept in good condition.

“Council is well aware of the damage vehicles can cause and has had bylaws in place to restrict vehicle use on reserves and beaches for many years.”

“A few years ago it was common for people to make the short walk to their fishing spots. We need to get back to that approach to going beach fishing,” Mr McLaren said. “Sure, driving along the dunes is convenient, but it is a convenience that costs ratepayers many thousands of dollars in repairing the damage each year.

Local Coast Care Group Leader Antoinette Mountfort also said it was encouraging to see people starting to get the message.

“These dunes provide valuable habitat for native plants and animals as well as protecting the road and railway from coastal hazards, so it’s really important that everyone takes care of them.

“We’ve been going since 1995 and we’re always looking for new people to join our group with planting or weeding activities,” Mrs Mountfort said

ENDS

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