Beach awareness message timely reminder
Date: 24 December 2008
Interagency beach awareness days in Northland have begun; with the recent tragic accident at Ripiro beach reinforcing how important a 'safe driving on beaches' message is.
For the third year in a row Northland Regional Council, Department of Conservation, Police and District Councils have joined forces on the beaches at Ahipara, Tokerau Beach, Bream Bay, Ruakaka and Ripiro Beach; talking to people about beach protocols and promoting a 'safe driving on beaches' message.
And according to Kaitaia's Sergeant Kevin Anderson, the messages for safe driving are simple.
"With summer here and more people at the beach, motorists need to be aware of other beach users. The main message is to consider your speed. If you're near an area with children and other people, keep your speed low.
And remember that the road rules apply, so seatbelts are required, and passengers need to be seated and belted up too."
The Police are taking the beach safety message one step further this year, carrying out designated beach patrols across Northland.
"The aim is to not only assist with safety and enjoyment on the beach but also to carry out enforcement to ensure people are driving safely and following the road rules," said Sergeant Anderson.
More interagency awareness days will be happening in the New Year, including a beach-clean up and family day planned for Tokerau Beach on the 10th of January.
But it's not only Government agencies that are promoting a safer beaches message. The community is also taking action.
Karikari Peninsula beach care group have produced their own brochure on beach protocols and have been campaigning for several months to improve signage for coastal access ways and reduce damage to sensitive dune areas from vehicles.
President of the Tokerau/Whatuwhiwhi residents and ratepayers group, who also support the coast care group's initiative, Laurie Atkinson, said the group are not trying to prevent people from having fun.
"We just want to make sure that everyone can enjoy the beach safely and that the dunes, which protect people's homes from the sea, are cared for." Mr Atkinson said.
And DOC is asking the public to watch out for another kind of two legged beach user this summer.
This time of the year means fledgling chicks of some shore birds like dotterels and oyster catchers are present along the shoreline, as well as late clutches of eggs.
DOC's Community Relations Manager in Kaitaia, Carolyn Smith, said care is required around breeding sites.
"Dotterels and oystercatchers tend to nest just above the high tide zone, so keep below this area and if you have dogs make sure they're on a leash.
Just the scent of a dog is enough to scare a New Zealand dotterel off its nest; and with numbers declining we all need to lend a hand to give these little birds a fighting chance." Ms Smith said.