Vote Castlecliff
Question 1: Candidate Response
What Our Candidates are Telling Us.
Question 1: What could be done about monitoring safe speeds on the beach? Does the candidate support healthy off-leash dog walking away from the crowded areas at Rangiora Street?
James Newell: We need a police presence and more signage. Yes, I do support dogs under control and again better signage explaining owners' responsibilities.
Charlotte Melser: Safe vehicle speeds on the beach is a very hard one to monitor all year around. The issue largely relies on civil reporting. In 2018 the speed limit was reduced to 30km which is in line with most NZ beaches. The three main spots people gather and children play on Castlecliff beach are at the North Mole, in front of the Surf Club and at the North Stream. I think there could be a case for the speed limit to be 15km around these areas, and potentially a lower speed limit on the entire beach in Summer.
Jenny Duncan: PCI could invest in a quad bike that could be used by police. [I appreciate there will need to be some approvals for this] We could also have a community patrol and take rostered turns on sunny days travelling the beach and educating people we see exceeding the limit. We know the young chaps on trail bikes want noise and speed, but some older ones just don’t understand the risks and dangers to themselves, family and other beach users.Dog. Off leash dog behaviour has greatly improved in the last 7 years. Many dog owners now have their dogs off leash but call the dog back when they see someone coming. This is easier to do on the beach. More dog control education is required for some dog owners who really want a well-behaved dog but haven’t yet learned how to achieve that.
Rob Vinsen: Voluntary Wardens are an option that could be considered. A Warden could monitor dog behaviour as well as vehicle behaviour. Wardens can have enforcement powers if desired. I would support off-leash dog exercise areas away from designated on-leash zones.
Julian Bailey (Rural Community Board - Kaitoke subdivision): If authorities have set speed limits, then I would gather enforcement must be unconditional. We are all aware of how speed is monitored and enforced on public roads. Is this any different, especially when considering public safety and dune erosion? Perhaps a designated or purpose-created space for those that enjoy those activities.
Q1.2 I support dog walking on the condition that the walker collects droppings and appropriately deposits them in hopefully, containers provided. I would encourage the creation of Dog Walking parks. After witnessing how tremendously popular they are in Japan.
Rory Smith: I’m not up to speed on methodology to monitor safe speeds however it stands to reason that there should be regulation in place so other members of the public can feel safe.I support healthy off-leash dog walking away from the crowded areas and the reserve.
Alan Taylor - Horizons-Whanganui Constituency: Castlecliff Beach is legally a ‘road’ but Whanganui District Council can enact a Bylaw governing speed or the Beach’s use as a road. My ‘personal’ view is that the portion of the Beach used by the public for family activity should be designated ‘vehicle free’. Likewise, off-leash dog walking is a WDC matter. I have no strong view on this except to reinforce the safety of the public is paramount.
Glenda Brown: Vehicles on the beach in areas where families play and picnic is not conducive to a safe environment. My personal view is vehicles should not be on the sand at all. Obviously, 4-wheelers and tractors dealing with boat trailers are acceptable and provide much fun in the sun, but there should be a safe speed limit. Caution around creating another role for someone to oversee but maybe an overseer could be incorporated in the surf life-saving job description as part of safety on the beach? I support healthy off-leash dogs away from the crowded areas of Rangiora Street.
Scott Phillips: Vehicles could be banned in various places on the beach, pedestrians and vehicles don’t mix well. Off-leash dog walking in less busy areas is a positive thing for everyone, defining an area makes people with dogs comfortable about them running free, but also means that people nervous around dogs etc can walk in other areas. I have a dog myself that loves to run free on the beach.
Daniel (DC) Harding: Whanganui discussed the importance of lowering the speed limit on the beach 2016/2017. Council responded by lowering the speed limit from 100kmph to 30kmph. This was a great move to ensure that users of the beach were safer than before. Council could partner with NZ Police to place speed cameras on the beach to ensure that safety is assured. Off-leash dog walks: Yes – for registered dog owners who have full control of their animal during the excursion.
Ross Fallen: Has this been assessed in any way to discover the extent etc? Police are overstretched and the worst period seems to be summer. Perhaps funding could be found for a quad bike volunteer patrol similar to Maori Wardens but my concern would be that they would have no ‘police’ powers and could be putting themselves at risk. Signage can be overdone but at key entry points warning of speed limits and fines. Many of the bike owners are likely locals, and perhaps flyer drops locally prior to each summer by Progress Castlecliff is one step. I support off-leash beachfront areas as currently updated and defined by council. This is based on community consultation from the North Mole up to Mowhanau. Multiple users mean some guidance is needed. Currently, dogs off-leash on footpaths is banned. Are we asking for a special area dispensation because of our more relaxed beachy way of living and we ‘know’ our dogs are too old or timid to be a concern, or, we ‘know’ our dogs are under our control? Locals know each other’s dogs, and visitors, but new arrivals do not. Our suburb is becoming urbanised and our traditional beach area locals are fast becoming marginalised as the suburb becomes a very attractive destination point.
David Cotton - Horizons, Whanganui Constituency: Is WDC matter
Andrew Tripe: If there is no bylaw, one will need to be developed. It seems a number of bylaws in Whanganui are not enforced so this will need education and then enforcement. Yes, support healthy off-leash dog walking.
Kate Joblin: I was very supportive of Council’s recent move to slow down vehicles on the beach and try to separate vehicles from people. A lot of thought has gone into how vehicles can be kept away from the beach and I will continue to be supportive of these efforts and any new ideas.
Helen Craig: An affordable and practical solution isn't easy. Education, signs and high fines may help, as well as community patrols at peak times. The joy of a dog running off-leash is wonderful, bearing in mind owners need to maintain control of their dogs. It can be frightening for people to experience uncontrolled dogs and the fear of being bitten. In general, I support this.
Roy Brown: There needs to be respect for all users of the beach – young and old. I don’t believe in being too draconian and would seek to encourage that there is perhaps an advertising drive around safety while on the beach and with the proper use of appropriate signage this could help in reducing excessive speeds in built-up areas along the beach. I liken it to how now when we pick up our kids from school in built-up areas or even standard boating rules when approaching docks etc. people slow down to a safe speed because it is the sensible, safe, and right thing to do. This needs to translate into the same behaviours exhibited on our beaches, and while restrictions are difficult to enforce, being mindful that it is a Kiwi institution to have fun and ride on our beaches, enforcing draconian rules will only encourage people to go elsewhere, so we need to take another approach and strive to educate rather than restrict. I would like to see a model similar to what they do in the USA, where an off-road vehicle license system is used, and some sort of identification is placed on the vehicle, and the licensing fee is paid to the Council, and all funds are used to improve the beach, signage, education purposes etc. It’s an idea, and yes, it does need development, but, in my opinion, it has some real merit. Yes, I do support healthy off-leash dog walking away from the crowded areas at Rangiora Street.
Blair Jones: Monitor it yourself with help of community policing and yes let the dogs have some fun.
Rodd Trott: Safe speeds: What is the justification for allowing vehicles onto the beach at all (other than emergencies). Traditionally if people wanted to use vehicles on the beach they were directed to South Beach. In theory if dogs are under control, they are fine – why not the same rules as for other public spaces.
Michael Law: I support the monitoring of safe speeds on the beach and believe that healthy off-leash dog walking should be encouraged away from crowded areas. This will help to keep both pedestrians and animals safe. The current speed limit of 30kph can be enforced via solar-powered cameras run by the community to name and shame those breaking the law.
Charlie Anderson: Monitoring speeds will be tricky, but I see it as a police job. I would imagine the hoons would probably be the same offenders, and their details passed on to the council or police. I would not recommend our community approach these idiots in person.
Philippa Baker-Hogan: Voluntary Community Patrols are probably the most practical and effective way to monitor safe speeds, probably linked with Safer Whanganui (Council) and the Community Patrol network, to ensure the safety of volunteers but also access & support from NZ Police, where appropriate. Yes, I support healthy off-leash dog walking, as long as it is a very safe distance away from crowded beach swimming/playing areas by Rangiora Street. Dogs can be tied up or in limited surrounds all day so where safe & practical, I support limited time off-leash.
Dan Jackson: Make the local community a part of the discussion. Re-activate the programme where lifeguards from the surf club used to visit schools and educate kids about the beach and safety - including vehicle safety on the beach. People will be less likely to speed along the beach if the kids at home are growling at them for it. Put cameras on the surf club, Duncan Pavilion and other spots and when people are acting irresponsibly on the beach in vehicles, get the police to do something. Encourage locals to call the police if they see poor behaviour. Yes, I agree with off-leash walking, but owners should be made aware they have to take responsibility for their animals and be aware they could face prosecution for any poor behaviour from their pet.
Phillip (Bear) Rewiti: Not happy about the quads on the beach. It's hard to police, education would be the answer. Dogs are OK as long as there are no kids around and dogs are under control.
Allan Wrigglesworth - Horizons, Whanganui Constituency: I am standing for regional council, and the beach seems to be the responsibility of our district council. I also live overlooking the beach and worry about children getting hit by vehicles. Police are also responsibly for traffic on the foreshore. Maybe Council could set up a hotline to enable the public to report speeding via text, including a picture. I walk along Castlecliff beach almost every day and find nearly all dog owners responsive to the public when they are walking their dogs. The beach is one of the few places where dogs can run freely.
Hamish McDouall: Both these issues are similar. Many people who drive on the beach are responsible and obey the rules. Some do not. Many people who walk their dogs on the beach control their dogs and pick up after them. Some do not. The beach is a legal road and should be a place where you can have your dog unleashed if it is biddable, but I would prefer most public areas to be free of vehicles and, indeed unleashed dogs. Many people are nervous of dogs, and we want the beach to be available for all. Enforcement is difficult. The Police are stretched, particularly over the weekends. As for community patrols, I think we need to be cautious about potential confrontations – if they can operate on an educative basis, I would support a trial. Foxton beach seems to have good community buy-in to controlling speed, and I support investigating their system.
James Barron: Work with Surf Club to fund a Castlecliff community patrol ATV. Fit with high resolution “dashcams”. Castlecliff residents, WSLSC members plus Maori Wardens and, when available, Police Officers survey the beach with an educational remit on speed, staying off dunes and rip/swimming safety. ATV is also used for SAR searches, regular filming to measure coast erosion, Coastcare planting and as backup SLSC ATV. Yes, support off-leash dog walking.