In 2 days time I will be speaking to our local District Council for no more than 5 minutes on an incredibly divisive local topic: vehicle access to Waikawa Beach.
The community has been polarised. I support a pedestrian-friendly beach where vehicles are not allowed. Refining my talk…
@Miraz Good luck[1]! Hoping you get what you need!
[1]: knowing you’ll have good luck because “luck favours the prepared”.
@Miraz Driving on the beach is no human right. Maybe they think if they did it in Baywatch, then I can do it? Really hoping they’ll see the value of your view.
@odd In Aotearoa the beach is legally defined as a road and it's very common in some places for people to drive on to and up and down the beach. That's the case here at Waikawa Beach. Nature cut off the access, lots of stuff happened, and now the Council will decide whether or not to allow vehicles access from here. They could still drive up from elsewhere. I hope to convince the Council to ban all vehicles.
@Miraz I wish you every success making that argument! Here we have so much carparking alongside the beach reserve, and while I even find that unappealing, it's certainly better than allowing cars directly onto the beach. It's not like it's a long way to walk!
@Miraz I've never understood the idea of driving on the beach. I thought it was only an American thing, but I guess it's that way in Aotearoa as well.
@pratik I can understand it to launch a boat or drive heavy fishing gear to a spot, and even to drive a family to a spot for a picnic, but far too many people use our beach as a motor sport ground. Not too long ago the coastline round here was the only land transport route available (back in the mid 1800s).